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I is for Iguanodon Traditional Cache

Hidden : 12/10/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is a small lock and lock container. It was initially stocked with small ornithopod dinosaurs.

Iguanodon was a bulky herbivore that could shift from bipedality (2 legs) to quadrupedality (4 legs). It is estimated to have weighed about 3.5 tons, and measured about 33 feet long as an adult. The arms were long (up to 75% the length of the legs) and robust, with rather inflexible hands built so that the three central fingers could bear weight. The thumbs were conical spikes that stuck out away from the three main digits. In early restorations, the spike was placed on the animal's nose. Later fossils revealed the true nature of the thumb spikes, although their exact function is still debated. They could have been used for defense, or for foraging for food. These dinosaurs had a large, tall but narrow skull, with a toothless beak, and teeth like those of an iguana, but much larger and more closely packed.

Discovered in 1822 and described three years later by English geologist Gideon Mantell, the discovery of Iguanodon has long been accompanied by a popular legend. The story goes that Mantell's wife, Mary Ann, discovered the first teeth of an Iguanodon in Sussex, England, in 1822 while her husband was visiting a patient. In recognition of the resemblance of the teeth to those of the iguana, Mantell named his new discovery Iguanodon or "iguana-tooth", from iguana and the Greek word odon, odontos ("tooth").

When I was young, dinosaurs were one of the things that got me interested in science. It is my hope that these dino caches will have the same effect on the kids who find them.

Young children should feel free to take one of the Dinos without replacement. When the contents drop below 1-2 saurians, leave a note in the log and I'll try to top off the container.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Sbhe gehax gerr gb gur fbhgu bs gur genvy.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)