Iguanodon bernissartensis

Length: 36 feet
Height: 13 feet
Weight: 3 tons

## **Coloration:**

*Male –* Forest green with a lighter green belly and
darker striping or blotches on the back, tail, and legs. There is a
white stripe on both sides of the body, reaching from the lower side of
 the tail and across the thighs to the underbelly beneath the armpits.
There is a white mark across the lower face and side of the neck. The
throat region is a vibrant, blood-red, giving the impression that the
throat has been slit. A reddish hue that extends down the chest furthers
 the illusion of blood running down its front. The red is most vibrant
 in dominant adults; the necks of subordinate and younger males are more
 a dull pink.

*Female –* Like the male, except with a yellowish-green on the throat instead of red.

Juvenile (both sexes)*–* Bright, forest green without
markings of the adult, with yellow throat like the adult female. Males
develop the pink throats as they reach maturity.

## **Diet:**

A wide variety of vegetation which it chews with its grinding cheek teeth.

## **Preferred Habitat:**

Forests or plains dotted with clusters of trees.

## **Social Structure:**

Large herds with a single dominant male in
charge of a few other males, many females and young. Females within the
 herd are subordinate to the males.

## **Description:**

Large, heavy bodied quadrupedal herbivore. From a
 distance, Iguanodon can be mistaken for a crest-less species of
hadrosaur. Long head with toothless beak, back teeth hidden by fleshy
cheeks. Forelegs smaller than hind legs. Capable of traversing on its
hind legs for short distances. Iguanodon’s hand is a specialized tool
and is probably the most defining feature of this animal. The three
middle fingers are stout and joined together, forming hooves used for
walking. The fifth finger is opposable and can curl around objects to
grasp; and the thumb is modified into a huge spike - the Iguanodon’s
main weapon. The male is larger than the female, and its thumb spikes
tend to be larger as well.

## **Behaviors:**

Iguanodon is generally peaceful unless disturbed,
and herds can often be seen feeding alongside the much smaller
Dryosaurus as well as other herbivores. However Iguanodon - especially
the males – are among the most aggressive and dangerous of ornithopods
on Isla Sorna, nearly on par with Stegosaurus and Triceratops. Most
predators are wise to avoid these fearsome herbivores, and those that do
 hunt them usually only target the more vulnerable individuals such as
 the young or the sick. Healthy adults are very powerful and will defend
 themselves with their bulk and deadly thumb spikes. When under threat,
 the adult females form a defensive wall around the more vulnerable
members of the herd while the males on the outside fend off their
attackers with noise and much aggression. If a predator has been
captured by one of these herbivores, it will be lucky to escape alive,
as the Iguanodon will be sure to trample, pound, and stab the
unfortunate carnivore repeatedly until there are no more signs of life.

In an Iguanodon herd, the dominant male can often be distinguished
from the others by his large size and the vibrant red of his throat.
Often he is also heavily-scarred, as he is the most active in the
defense of his herd against predators and rival males. The breeding
season is the time when the males of the herd challenge one another for
 ultimate dominance. During minor disputes, males show off their thumb
spikes in wide stabbing motions, remaining at a distance to avoid
serious injury. However, if the contests become more intense, the males
 will move on to tackling one another - trying to force their opponents
 to the ground. The winner will establish or retain his dominance over
the herd and win mating rights. The dominant male has to defend his post
 from several young, strong candidates, and if he is able to hold them
 off long enough he will keep his position for another year. He mates
with all the females; prevents the subordinate males from doing so;
resolves disputes between male and female alike; and fights off various
 species of predator with the help of his subordinates. Even Dryosaurus,
 constant companions throughout the majority of the year, keep a wide
berth during the breeding season for fear of being caught up in the
male's violent disputes.

When a dominant male has finally emerged from all the fighting, he is
 safe to court the females in peace. The surge of testosterone will
ensure his throat becomes redder and more vibrant, and he will
progressively bulk out with muscle over the next few days. The excessive
 quantities of male hormone also renders him highly aggressive, and
like a male Triceratops, he will attempt to charge at even harmless
animals that get too close to his herd. The females, however, tend to
be impressed by such machoism, wanting a strong male to father strong
offspring.

While Edmontosaurus, Corythosaurus and Parasaurolophus nest together
in colonies, Iguanodon prefer to mingle with their own kind. Similarly
to the hadrosaurs, female Iguanodon build nests that are close together
 with enough room for the adults to move between, and all help one
another protect the eggs and hatchlings from predators. When it comes to
 feeding and raising the young, male Iguanodon are not so involved like
 Corythosaurus, Parasaurolophus and Edmontosaurus males, and instead
remain on the perimeter of the nesting area, keeping on constant guard.
 Any small nest raider foolish enough to get too close are charged,
often pummelled and stabbed to death if they are unlucky enough to be
caught. For this reason, it is very difficult for an Iguanodon egg or
nestling to be stolen.

Iguanodon calls include deep roaring and bellowing, as well as snorts
 and grunts. Male Iguanodon make a lot more noise than the females and
young, particularly during disputes with other males; warning off
predators; displaying to females; and keeping herd members in line. It
is generally the dominant male which produces the loudest calls and
makes the most noise.