Iguanodon

Iguanodon

Diet : Herbivorous

Habitat : Forests of North America

Length : 8 to 13 feet (2.5-4.0 meters)

Weight : 165-220 lb (75-100 kg)

Named in honor of the traditional homeland of Navajo people which was called Dineh. The Dinehichnus tracks were previously described by M. Lockley and others from the Late Jurassic rocks of Morrison Formation, in Boundary Butte, Utah. Since then Dinehichnus is found worldwide in the northern hemisphere. Tracks are left by bipeds, with cigar-shaped toes, which are widely and equally spaced, and they have characteristic proximal (heel-like) discrete oval pads located centrally, below the middle toe. Dinehichus tracks occur in two general sizes, large and small. The small one measures about 4 inches (10 cm). G. Gierliński and K. Sabath (2008) suggest that small and large are left by two different ornithopods which made the multiple species herds like impalas, zebras and gazelles.

Meaning ‘tree lizard’ reflecting the forested habitat in which it lived, Dryosaurus was a social animal adapted for fast running. Some researchers estimate that it could reach a speed of as much as 25 miles (40 km) per hour. This certainly allowed it to escape from most predators. Analyses of bones identified as belonging to young dryosaurs showed that the animal grew throughout its life. These dinosaurs had five fingers on its front limbs and thus was able to pull and hold plants. It also had a bony beak plated with a horny substance and long, crested cheek teeth to grind food.