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1833 Iguanodon mistaken spike horn fossil
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1833 Iguanodon mistaken spike horn fossil
From Mantell 1833. Accompanying legend reads: the " Horn of the Iguanodon" (3) and " The Claw or unguical bone of an Iguanodon" (1) with, for comparison " The Nail and the bone which it covered of a recent Iguana" (2, 3). Drawn and lithographed by F. Pollard, printed by Graf & Soret. From The Geology of the South East of England by Gideon Mantell, 1833, published by Longman, Rees, Orme and Brown of Paternoster Row. One of the most celebrated but understandable mistakes in Palaeontology was Mantells identification and placing of the thumb-spike of the Iguanodon on the nose of the animal as a horn in early reconstructions such as those at the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. The mistake perpetuated itself for many decades until in 1878 (Berrissart, Belgium) more complete specimens indicated the " horn" was actually a modified thumb, perhaps used for defence
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Media ID 6345467
© PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1833 Adaptation Black And White Claw Defence Dinosaur Dinosauria Discovery Fossil Gideon Mantell Horn Iguanodon Mantell Mistake Surrey Thumb Adaption Mono Chrome Palaeontology Weald
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to the year 1833, when Gideon Mantell made a significant but understandable mistake in the field of paleontology. The image showcases an illustration from Mantell's book "The Geology of the South East of England" beautifully drawn and lithographed by F. Pollard. In this historic artwork, we can see three distinct elements: the "Horn of the Iguanodon" (3), the "Claw or unguical bone of an Iguanodon" (1), and for comparison, "The Nail and the bone which it covered of a recent Iguana" (2,3). These fossilized remains were printed by Graf & Soret under Longman, Rees, Orme and Brown's publication. Mantell's most famous misinterpretation was his placement of what he believed to be a horn on the nose of an Iguanodon. This error persisted for decades until more complete specimens discovered in Berrissart, Belgium in 1878 revealed that it was actually a modified thumb used for defense rather than a horn. This monochrome masterpiece not only captures Mantell's inaccurate depiction but also serves as a reminder of how science evolves over time through new discoveries. It is a testament to both human curiosity and our ability to rectify mistakes through further exploration. As we gaze upon this remarkable piece, we are transported back to an era where knowledge was still unfolding and dinosaurs roamed freely in our imagination.
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