Dimetrodon, Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller Previous | Home | Next

All content copyright © 2007 Mon-Photo.Com All rights reserved       

Dimetrodon ( /da?'me.t????d?n/ ) was a predatory synapsid ('mammal-like reptile') genus that flourished during the Permian Period, living between 280 and 265 million years ago. It was more closely related to mammals than to true reptiles ( Sauropsida), like dinosaurs, lizards and birds.
Dimetrodon was not a dinosaur, despite being popularly grouped with them. Rather, it is classified as a pelycosaur. It is surprisingly well-known to the general public and makes an appearance in the James Mason film Journey to the Center of the Earth. Fossils of Dimetrodon have been found in North America and Europe. The climate of Europe and North America in the Early Permian, was probably arid to continental, so Dimetrodon was probably adaptable.