Dimetrodon Skeleton, juvenile cast replica

Dimetrodon, pronounced (die-MET-roh-don) which means ("two measures of teeth" so named because it had a large skull with two different types of teeth; shearing teeth and sharp canine teeth, unlike reptiles. Dentition showing this differentiation of teeth is called heterodonty).   Juvenile Dimetrodon Skeleton, Permian Of North America   Dimetrodon (meaning two-measure teeth) was a sail-backed, meat-eating animal that lived during the Permian Period, roughly 280 MYA years ago, before the dinosaurs evolved. It was a so-called mammal-like reptile, a pelycosaur; pelycosaurs were the ancestors of the mammals. Dimetrodon was a dominant carnivore during the Permian period, living mainly in swampy areas. Unlike their fellow non-finned pelycosaurs, they warmed up early after sunrise, and cooled off more efficiently during the heat of the day. This efficient thermoregulation along with their large and powerful jaws gave them the advantage over their cohorts, making them dominant. Dimetrodon was a