Dinosaur collection
Iguanodon atherfieldensis, one of the most complete skeletons of an Iguanodon discovered in the British Isles. Found on the Isle of Wight in 1917, it dates back 140-110 million years.
The Natural History Museum houses one of the world’s most important dinosaur collections. It currently includes 157 taxa, of which 115 consist of original material and 69 are type specimens.
Origins of the collection
The collection was founded on Gideon Mantell’s collections, acquired in 1838 and 1853.
Details
What does the collection contain?
Ornithischian dinosaurs:
- iguanodontians, including Iguanodon
- hadrosaurs
- ceratopsians, including Triceratops and Centrosaurus
- ankylosaurs
- Hypsilophodon
Saurischian dinosaurs:
- sauropods
- theropods, including:
- megalosaurs
- tyrannosauroids, including Proceratosaurus and Tyrannosaurus
- spinosaurs
- allosauroids
Geological range:
Late Triassic (about 220 million years ago) to Late Cretaceous (65 million years ago)
Geographical range:
The collection is particularly strong in British, Canadian and African dinosaurs, though many other countries are also represented.
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Cretaceous dinosaur material
Discover the highlights and history of Cretaceous material in the Museum's dinosaur collection.
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Jurassic dinosaur material
Find out about dinosaur specimens dating back to the Jurassic, and learn about their origins.