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1863 Figuier Iguanodon and Megalosaurus
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1863 Figuier Iguanodon and Megalosaurus
Art by Riou in the first edition of Louis Figuiers " Earth before the Deluge" (1863). The figure shows restored dinosaurs after scientist Richard Owen and artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins. The iguanodon (prey left) has the thumbspike wrongly placed on its nose. Both it and Megalosaurus (predator right) have the rhino like bodies that Owen envisaged. Gideon Mantell had suspected smaller front limbs, but Owen igonored him. The correct position of the spike and the gait was revealed by the spectacular Bernissart finds in Belgium 1878. it would take the discovery of the first reasonably complete Hadrosaur skeleton in the USA (1858, Leidy description 1864) to change conceptions of the form of dinosaurs. Even then it would be a long time before popular publications made the connection or the correction
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6319017
© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com
Buckland Cretaceous Dinosaur Fight Iguanodon Mantell Megalosaurus Owen Popular Science Predation Predator Prey Reconstruction Restoration
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This photo print, titled "1863 Figuier Iguanodon and Megalosaurus" showcases the remarkable artwork by Riou in the first edition of Louis Figuiers' renowned book, "Earth before the Deluge" (1863). The image depicts restored dinosaurs based on the collaborative efforts of scientist Richard Owen and artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins. In this illustration, we witness an iguanodon as prey on the left side, with its thumbspike curiously misplaced on its nose. On the right stands a formidable megalosaurus, representing a predator. Both creatures exhibit rhino-like bodies, reflecting Owen's visionary interpretation. However, Gideon Mantell had previously proposed smaller front limbs for iguanodons, which Owen chose to disregard. It wasn't until 1878 when astonishing discoveries were made in Bernissart, Belgium that unveiled the correct placement of the spike and revealed their true gait. Furthermore, it took the unearthing of a reasonably complete Hadrosaur skeleton in America in 1858 (described by Leidy in 1864) to revolutionize our understanding of dinosaur anatomy. Nevertheless, it would still be quite some time before these groundbreaking findings were acknowledged or rectified within popular publications. Paul D. Stewart's expertly captured photograph from Science Photo Library not only commemorates this pivotal moment in paleontological history but also serves as a reminder of how scientific knowledge evolves over time through continuous exploration and discovery.
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