Sir Richard Owen (1804-92) produced a series of monographs on the fossil reptiles found in the Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks of the United Kingdom. Originally published in 1874-89, this monograph describes fossil reptiles ranging from the Middle Jurassic through to the Early Cretaceous.

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In his monograph on the Wealden and Purbeck Reptilia (published in five parts with nine supplements in 1853-79), Sir Richard Owen (1804-92) confirms the distinctiveness of the newly recognised 'Dinosauria', and also reviews the other reptiles then known from these Early Cretaceous faunas, including turtles, crocodiles and lizards.