Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis

The above profile for Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis covers its temporal range, fossil location, initial discovery, and mandibular research, with additional palaeontological information and references provided below

The holotype specimen of Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis (NHMUK R5764) is on display in the Hintze Hall of the Natural History Museum in London. The holotype specimen was first discovered in 1914 on the Isle of Wight. Image credit: James Ronan, 2022.

Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis was a large iguanodontian dinosaur that lived throughout the Early Cretaceous between 136.4 and 125 million years ago. Mantellisaurus like other iguanodontian dinosaurs was an herbivore and was lightly built only weighing up to 750 kg.

When compared to Iguanodon bernissartensis which weighed 5.0 tonnes, Mantellisaurus was much lighter in comparison. Mantellisaurus is considered to have been a quadrupedal dinosaur capable of also moving bipedally. Trace fossil footprints of the dinosaur have been identified at Yaverland on the Isle of Wight.

Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis tridactyl (three-toed) footprints identified in Yaverland on the Isle of Wight in 2023. Image credit: JBA Consulting/Environment Agency.

Mantellisaurus fossilised remains have been identified at the following geological formations; the Wealden and Wessex Formation of the United Kingdom, Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation in Belgium. The Calcaires à Spatangues, Argile Ostréenne, and Grès et Sables Piquetés Formations in France, the upper Barremian in Germany, and the Papo Seco Formation in Portugal. The La Huérguina, Camarillas, Arcillas de Morella, and Mirambel Formations in Spain.

Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis has seen a substantial amount of palaeontological research covering its bonebed occurrences, phylogeny, taxonomy, anatomy, and mandibular elements. The Mantellisaurus holotype (NHMUK R5764) on display in the Hintze Hall of the London Natural History Museum is 80-90% complete and was 3D scanned in 2019 to provide important data for palaeontological research.

You can check out this video below from the Natural History Museum where Dr Susannah Maidment explains the importance of scanning the bones of Mantellisaurus and how such research will increase scientific knowledge.

Dr Susannah Maidment and Dr Joe Bonsor talk about the importance of studying Mantellisaurus bones to understand the dinosaurs palaeobiology.

As a result of the 3D scanning work in the above video on the fossil, research was published in 2023 by Bonsor and co-authors covering Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis osteology and phylogenetic position.

The research identified Mantellisaurus as a valid taxon, distinct from the Iguanodon genus due to autapomorphies (distinct features) of the premaxilla, maxilla and the dinosaurs scapula. Such in-depth research is enabling a deeper insight into the evolutionary history of iguanodontian dinosaurs.

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