Megalosaurus

Misha Glenny and guests discuss Megalosaurus, the first dinosaur ever scientifically named in 1824 by geologist and priest William Buckland, kickstarting two centuries of dinosaur science. The episode explores the theological and scientific upheavals of the 19th century that surrounded this discovery, the contributions of William and Mary Buckland, and how modern palaeontology reconstructs the lives of mid-Jurassic creatures from fragmentary fossils. The discussion covers the evolving understanding of Megalosaurus's anatomy, behavior, and place in the dinosaur family tree, as well as the distinction between it and later dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex.