Crystal Palace Maquette - Labyrinthodon

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A life-size bronze model of the Labyrinthodon statue, erected in Crystal Palace Park, London, between 1853 and 1855, showcases the animal's massive proportions. Sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins likely crafted these models, which have withstood the test of time. The species at the heart of these replicas has been reclassified scientifically as Mastodonsaurus, a name that translates to "breast tooth lizard." This new classification replaced an earlier term, Labyrinthodon, coined by nineteenth-century anatomist Richard Owen in an attempt to give the animal a more fitting moniker. Although Labyrinthodon is no longer formally recognized, it remains a colloquialism used to refer to the Crystal Palace models. Mastodonsaurus is part of the temnospondyl group, which comprises massive four-legged animals thought to be primitive amphibians. For more information about this fascinating creature, visit https://cpdinosaurs.org/visit/statue-details/labyrinthodon.