Ophiacodon

Name:

Ophiacodon (Greek for "snake tooth"); pronounced oh-fee-ACK-oh-don

Habitat:

Swamps of North America

Historical Period:

Late Carboniferous-Early Permian (310-290 million years ago)

Size and Weight:

About 10 feet long and 50-100 pounds

Diet:

Fish and small animals

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Large size; long, narrow head

About Ophiacodon:

One of the largest land animals of the late Carboniferous period, Ophiacodon may have been the apex predator its day, feeding opportunistically on fish, insects, and small reptiles and amphibians. This pelycosaur's legs were a bit less stumpy and splayed than those of its closest relative Archaeothyris, and its jaws were relatively massive, so it would have had little difficulty chasing down and eating its prey.