Dimetrodon (Greek for "two measures of teeth"); pronounced die-MET-roe-don
Habitat:
Swamps of North America
Historical Period:
Permian (280 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 11 feet long and 500 pounds
Diet :
Meat
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Big head; narrow body; large, thin sail on back
About Dimetrodon:
It's often mistaken for a dinosaur, but Dimetrodon lived long, long before the first dinosaurs evolved--280 million years ago, during the Permian period. An example of a pelycosaur--one of the first families of reptiles to live entirely on land--it went extinct about 250 million years ago, along with countless other species. (See 10 Facts About Dimetrodon and a gallery of Dimetrodon pictures.)
Dimetrodon's most spectacular feature was its large sail, which ran along the entire length of its back. Paleontologists speculate that the main purpose of this sail was to regulate its owner's temperature: it soaked up sunshine during the day (much like a solar panel), and also helped dissipate energy if Dimetrodon became overheated. Secondarily, this sail may have served as a mating display, and it doesn't hurt that it helped Dimetrodon look a lot bigger in the eyes of any hungry carnivores lurking nearby.
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