What is Dimetrodon?
Q: What is Dimetrodon?
A: Dimetrodon was a pelycosaur (early Synapsida) from the first part of the Permian period (about 295–272 million years ago). It walked on four legs and had a tall, curved skull with large teeth of different sizes set along the jaws.
Q: Where have most fossils been found?
A: Most fossils have been found in the southwestern United States, from red beds in Texas and Oklahoma.
Q: What is the largest known species of Dimetrodon?
A: The largest known species of Dimetrodon is D. angelensis at 4.6 metres (15 ft) long.
Q: What was Dimetrodon's main feature?
A: Dimetrodon's main feature was a large sail on its back formed by elongated spines extending upwards from the vertebrae that were joined by skin.
Q: How did scientists believe this sail was used?
A: Scientists believed that this sail was used as a temperature-regulating device, allowing it to warm up in the early morning by placing itself broadside to the Sun and later cool off in shade or arrange for its body to get less sunlight. Additionally, it may have been used for sexual or territorial signalling with colored skin.
Q: What evolutionary grade did Dimetrodon belong to?
A: In evolutionary terms, Dimetrodon belonged to synapsid, which is a line of land animals which eventually gave rise to mammals but not on direct line of descent typical of Permian synapsids.
