Megalosaurus was named in 1824 by William Buckland, becoming the first genus of (non-avian) dinosaur to be validly named.

Despite this claim to fame, the species is not well known today and not the most understood: the species became a “Wastebasket Taxon” with many fossils just described as being from Megalosaurus. A complete skeleton has not been found.

When first reconstructed, Megalosaurus was interpreted as a monstrous quadrupedal lizard.

Similar to how the also recently discovered Iguanadon was interpreted as a giant horned iguana, these creatures were described as Antediluvian monsters.

This interpretation, though long outdated, is perhaps more iconic that the species itself.