Page 52 - DINOSOUR ATLAS

IGuANoDoN .
A large herbivore, many
Iguanodon specimens have
been found across southern
Britain. It lived in herds, grazing
on horsetails and ferns, which it
cropped with its bony, toothless
beak. Cheek teeth then crushed
its food to pulp before it was
swallowed. Each thumb was
u DrAGoNfLY equipped with a sharp spike,
The watery landscape of Early Cretaceous which Iguanodon may have
Britain teemed with wildlife, of which dinosaurs used to stab at enemies.
were only a part. Lakes and rivers were the
domain of fish, turtles, and crocodiles, and
insects—especially dragonflies—were common.
This dragonfly has been preserved right down to
its wing veins and body stripes.

, NEoVENATor
Prowling the landscape of
southern Britain was a top predator of the
Early Cretaceous. This was Neovenator, a formidable
carnivore, closely related to Allosaurus of North
some teeth
were 2 in America. Its fossils have been found on the Isle of
(5 cm) long heavy tail Wight, off the south coast of England, where it might
with two rows have preyed upon Iguanodon.
of spikes
shoulder spikes

Claws grew
to 5 in
(13 cm) long

poLACANTHuS .
An ankylosaur (armored dinosaur), loNg head with
Polacanthus lived at the same time and a toothless beak
BaryoNyx had a long,
straight neck, which in the same area as Iguanodon and
was unusual for a big Neovenator. Along its neck, back, and tail
carnivore—most had were rows of spikes, and over its hips
S-shaped necks was a bony shield. These features
protected Polacanthus during an attack.

Cliffs rise to 500 ft
loNg, sleNder head (150 m) in height

HASTINGS CLIffS .
The Hastings Sands, part of the
Wealden Group, seen in the cliffs
at Hastings, formed about
140 million years ago. At this
time, the region was part of
an extensive river delta and
floodplain. The cliffs are the
Narrow, result of sediment settling in
spooN-shaped rivers and lakes. Plant, fish,
sNout
seashell, and dinosaur fossils
are found here, including
footprints of Iguanodon. Even
Early Cretaceous sea ripples
are preserved in amazing
detail.
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