DIMETRODON
(dy-MET-ro-don)
Dimetrodon
lived about 270 million years ago. This large lizard-like creature was
not actually a dinosaur, but a mammal-like reptile that lived before the
age of dinosaurs. Being a meat-eater it had long sharp teeth. That is
how it got the name Dimetrodon which means "Two Long Teeth."
Dimetrodon was up to 10 feet long
with a very large head for the size of its body. This means Dimetrodon
was about the same length as the current day tiger.
The most striking feature of the Dimetrodon was the large sail (fin) on
its back. This was possibly used as a heater and air conditioner. To warm
its body it could turn the sail side ways to the sun, and to cool down
he could turn away from the sun and release excess body heat into the
air.
Wouldn’t people look funny if they
had a large sail on their backs for temperature control?
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