Although I’ve been collecting toy dinosaurs for over 15 years my only representatives of the second dinosaur described by science have been the 1961 Marx, 1980 Invicta, and 1992 Carnegie Collection Iguanodon figures. It’s a somewhat embarrassing confession but let me explain myself. Shortly after its release I very nearly bought the Safari Iguanodon. I had it in-hand in a checkout line, but the line was moving too slowly, and I had a bus to catch. I abandoned it and never pursued it again. It was a bit too small anyway. I then planned to get the CollectA Iguanodon but as time passed without acquiring it, I grew to dislike its svelte build. Papo also released an Iguanodon, but the unsettling articulated jaw reminded me of a ventriloquist dummy and so it was never an option for my collection. Most recently, PNSO released one, but as part of their museum line I considered it too expensive. So the years ticked by, offering various Iguanodon toys, that just didn’t pan out for some reason or other. When Haolonggood announced theirs in 2025, I was committed to finally getting an Iguanodon on my shelf that wasn’t over 30 years old.
Of course, the Haolonggood Iguanodon is not without its flaws. It wins points with its size and bulk, high level of detail, complex paintjob, and affordable price, but it has some unusual anatomical anomalies. It seems that when picking Iguanodon figures, compromises need to be made, no matter what your preference. The figure’s most perplexing and offensive inaccuracy is the addition of a spiked claw on its fifth digit. The actual Iguanodon had a long, slender, and prehensile fifth digit. It was likely adapted for grasping food, but Haolonggood gave it a spike, like the one on its thumb! A huge oversight for sure but given the small size of the digit, easy to ignore. Additionally, the tail is a bit too sinuous in shape considering Iguanodon had a tail that was stiffened by ossified tendons. It was likely incapable of the degree of motion depicted here.
The shape of the head has also been the subject of much debate and discussion. Haolonggood has given their Iguanodon a roman nose of sorts, and although some Iguanodon specimens show a shallow bump over the nasals the one on this figure is more suggestive of something like Muttaburrasaurus or Kritosaurus. In every other respect this is a decent Iguanodon skull though, being deep and boxy, and for me it is easy to wave the roman nose off as soft tissue or as a skull shape unique to this individual. In any case, the PNSO Iguanodon is largely agreed upon to have a skull that matches better to Mantellisaurus so as I said previously, compromises need to be made with any Iguanodon you choose.
What this figure lacks in accuracy it more than makes up for in poise and shelf presence. The figure has a draft horse like quality in its burly build and graceful pose. The arms are appropriately large and robust, which for an Iguanodon figure is more important than the inaccuracies I mentioned earlier. The figure is confidently striding forward with the head lifted high and looking leftward. The right arm is forward of the left and the forelimbs are supported by three digits on each. The tail gently curves down and leftward, with the end curving back up and towards the right, and the tip dipping back down again. Although the curves in the tail are unlikely, they’re still lovely.
The scale detail on the figure is so fine that it is almost non-existent and makes the toy feel smooth in places, but it is indeed there, even if you have to squint to see it. This is a good thing, as the individual scales on dinosaur skin impressions are exceptionally small. There are some larger scales in places, such as along the brow, around the orbits, clustered along the rear of the mandibles, and as scutes on the toes. A ridge of raised scutes runs down the midline of the back and are tallest over the hips and tail base.
Skin creases and loose, saggy skin is sculpted where appropriate, such as along the nape, underside of the neck, around the limb joints, and along the lower torso. The limbs are nicely muscled and supported by thickly padded hands and feet. All bodily orifices are present. The beak has a layered, keratinous texture to it. And if you’re thinking that you can simply repaint that inaccurate fifth digit you should know that it is sculpted smooth, like the rest of the claws.
The figure measures 11” (27.94 cm) long and stands 4.25” (10.8 cm) tall at the top of the head. Measuring the figure along its curves gives us a length of 12” (30.48 cm). The actual I. bernissartensis is estimated to have reached a length of 30’ (9 meters), putting the figure at 1/30 in scale. Some specimens suggest a length of 36’ (11 meters) and using that length puts the figure at 1/36 in scale.
The Haolonggood Iguanodon comes with two different paintjobs. The one I have, Tao Zong Wang, is decked out in oranges and browns while the other, Zheng Tian Shou, sports blues and grays. Because the latter so closely resembled my Haolonggood Saurolophus I decided to go with Tao Zong Wang. Zheng Tian Shou has a high contrast paintjob that I like but this one ultimately felt more natural looking, with more subtle complexities in the paintjob, and also doesn’t have those damned squiggles that the blue variant has.
The base color here is a blend of various orange tones with peach blended in along the underside and some hints of purple along the flanks. The brown “stripes” along the back are actually clusters of small blotches and speckles, which I enjoy a lot. There are a few solid bands of brown at the end of the tail, which is otherwise bright orange. Generous speckling is painted throughout and creates a visually interesting, reticulated pattern over the thighs. The scutes along the back are picked out in dark brown, vibrant orange runs along the nasal bump and brows, the beak is brown, the eyes are yellow with black pupils, and the claws are dark gray. The hands and feet are dark gray with a lighter gray wash that makes them appear as if they’re caked in dirt and mud.
Despite some odd anatomical choices the Haolonggood Iguanodon is a beautiful model that has a lot going for it, and I think some accuracy pendants have been too hard on it. Of course, I tend to be forgiving of small inaccuracies if the model otherwise impresses and this one certainly does. I’m happy to have the Haolonggood Iguanodon as the modern example of the genus in my collection.
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