Who was Gideon Algernon Mantell?
Q: Who was Gideon Algernon Mantell?
A: Gideon Algernon Mantell was an English obstetrician, geologist and palaeontologist.
Q: What is he known for?
A: He is known for his work on the structure and life of Iguanodon which began the scientific study of dinosaurs. He also recognised that reptiles were the dominant life-form in what we now call the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Q: What did he discover in 1822?
A: In 1822, he discovered and identified the first fossil teeth, as well as much of the skeleton, of Iguanodon.
Q: How did this discovery contribute to our understanding of prehistoric reptiles?
A: This discovery provided evidence of a prehistoric reptilian dinosaur dating back roughly 130 million years ago, contributing to our understanding of these creatures from long ago.
Q: What two important things did Mantell do with regards to Iguanodon?
A: Mantell showed that the teeth of Iguanodon meant it must be a herbivore, and its shorter front legs meant it could be bipedal (walk on two legs).
Q: How did Richard Owen respond to Mantell's achievements?
A: Richard Owen denied Mantell's achievements and attempted to hide them.
Q: How did Gideon Algernon Mantel die?
A:Gideon Algernon Mantel died after taking an overdose of opium due to damage caused by an accident to his spine; it is not known whether this was done deliberately or if he took opium simply to dull the pain.
