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.
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.