Iguanodon’s Fancy Thumb
In Iguanodon’s Fancy Thumb, naturalist Steve Backshall explores this fascinating dinosaur, highlighting its diamond-shaped teeth, which resemble those of a present-day iguana. Plus, this segment demonstrates Iguanodon's most remarkable feature — its sharp thumb — by conducting a fencing match. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
Steve Backshall discovers the deadliest animals that ever walked the earth, the dinosaurs. Learn more.
Lesson Express
Q: What physical trait is similar in both an iguana and Iguanodon?
A: Their teeth are very similar in shape.
Q: After years of study, what part of Iguanodon did scientists determine the horned fossil belonged to?
A: The horned fossil was actually on its thumb.
Q: What do scientists think Iguanodon’s thumb spike was used for, aside from possibly defending itself?
A: They believe it was used as a tool to strip off leaves and branches to eat.