Rhabdodon

dinosaur · Europe · Late Cretaceous · herbivore

European plant-eater. Rhabdodon lived in Europe during the Late Cretaceous period, roughly 72 to 69 million years ago. It was one of the dinosaurs that walked on two strong back legs.

Surprisingly hefty. This dinosaur was about 13 feet long (about as long as a car) and weighed around 550 pounds, making it one of the larger dinosaurs in its family group.

Built sturdy and strong. Rhabdodon had a robust, muscular build that made it well-suited for eating plants. Scientists think it was more powerfully built than many of its smaller relatives.

Part of Iguanodontia. Modern scientists discovered that Rhabdodon belonged to a group called Iguanodontia, which included some of the most successful plant-eating dinosaurs of the Cretaceous.

Only one known species. The genus Rhabdodon contains just one species that we know of, called Rhabdodon priscus, making it a unique branch of the dinosaur family tree.