 Since its description in 1825 , Iguanodon has been a feature of worldwide popular culture . Two lifesize reconstructions of Mantellodon ( considered Iguanodon at the time ) built at the Crystal Palace in London in 1852 greatly contributed to the popularity of the genus . Their thumb spikes were mistaken for horns , and they were depicted as elephant @-@ like <unk> , yet this was the first time an attempt was made at constructing full @-@ size dinosaur models . In 1910 Heinrich <unk> portrayed a group of Iguanodon in the classic German collecting cards about extinct and prehistoric animals " <unk> der <unk> " . 
