恐龍卡第 0516 張，共 2 027 張

Dimetrodon

名字的意思： “two measures of teeth”1

吃：肉史前傳奇古生代，恐龍出現之前不是恐龍，而是史前傳奇

Dimetrodon was a fierce predator that lived long before the first dinosaurs. It had a big sail on its back made of long spines, and it is actually more closely related to mammals like us than to dinosaurs.1 2

這隻不是恐龍，但牠是史前時代最有名的動物之一，所以在 Dino Wiki 也有一席之地。

生存年代

294 到 271 百萬年前1 3

古生代，恐龍出現之前

化石發現地

Texas and Oklahoma, USA, and also in Germany and Canada1 3

長度

1.7 到 4.6 m (5.6 到 15 ft)1

體重

28 kg 到 250 kg (62 到 551 lb)1

最高速度

時速約 20 公里（12 英里）

跑步, 估計值

牠生活在什麼時候？

恐龍出現之前

恐龍時代

哺乳動物時代

4 億年前25266現在

牠有多大？

牠有多長？

牠有多重？

跟 12 隻狗一樣重

跟 5 隻狗從鼻子接到尾巴一樣長跟 26 根香蕉頭尾相接一樣長跟 50 顆西瓜一樣重跟 13 個幼兒園小朋友一樣重跟 8 個小學生一樣重能在 18 秒內跑完 100 公尺（最快的人類要 9.6 秒）

Dimetrodon 跟「你」比起來有多大？

只是在你的瀏覽器裡算算數學。什麼都不會被儲存或傳送出去。

牠有多快？

走路的人 時速約 5 公里 (3 mph)

騎腳踏車的小朋友 時速約 12 公里 (7 mph)

Dimetrodon 時速約 20 公里 (12 mph)

一匹飛奔的馬 時速約 65 公里 (40 mph)

一隻獵豹 時速約 100 公里 (62 mph)

酷東西

趣味知識

Dimetrodon is often mistaken for a dinosaur, but it is actually a synapsid, meaning it is more closely related to mammals than to reptiles.1 2

The sail on its back was made of very long bones from its spine, and scientists think it might have been used to attract mates or scare off rivals.1

Dimetrodon had different-sized teeth in its jaws, including sharp fangs, which helped it eat a variety of prey.1

It lived during the Permian Period, about 40 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared.1

Fossils show that Dimetrodon sometimes ate other animals that were hiding in burrows during droughts.1

Another sail-backed animal called Edaphosaurus lived at the same time, but it was a plant-eater and its sail evolved separately.2

Dimetrodon 的 AI 繪圖 — 這是電腦根據科學家目前的知識，用 AI 畫出 Dimetrodon 可能的樣子。這只是猜測：真正的動物可能長得不一樣，也沒有人知道牠真正的顏色。

你們都在問

關於 Dimetrodon 最常被問的問題

?Is Dimetrodon a dinosaur?

No, Dimetrodon is not a dinosaur. It is a synapsid, which means it is more closely related to mammals (including humans) than to reptiles or dinosaurs.1 2

?How big was Dimetrodon?

Most Dimetrodon species were 1.7 to 4.6 metres (5.6 to 15.1 feet) long and weighed 28 to 250 kilograms (62 to 551 pounds).1

?What did Dimetrodon eat?

Dimetrodon was a carnivore that ate fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other land animals. It was probably the top predator of its time.1

?When did Dimetrodon live?

Dimetrodon lived during the Permian Period, about 294 to 271 million years ago. That is about 40 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared.1

?Why did Dimetrodon have a sail?

Scientists think the sail was mostly used for courtship display, like showing off to mates or scaring rivals. It may also have helped warm up the body, but that is not its main purpose.1

?How fast could Dimetrodon run?

Probably up to about 20 km/h (12 mph), about as fast as a grown-up riding a bike. This is an estimate: nobody knows for sure. Dimetrodon walked on four sprawling legs, a bit like a Komodo dragon.1

?Could Dimetrodon swim?

Dimetrodon lived on land, but it may have hunted in shallow water. Its bone structure shows it was mostly terrestrial, not a strong swimmer.1

?Where did Dimetrodon live?

Most Dimetrodon fossils have been found in the southwestern United States, especially Texas and Oklahoma. Some have also been found in Germany.1

?Did Dimetrodon have feathers?

No, Dimetrodon did not have feathers. It was a reptile-like synapsid with scaly skin, not related to birds.1

?What is the difference between Dimetrodon and Edaphosaurus?

Dimetrodon was a meat-eater with sharp teeth, while Edaphosaurus was a plant-eater. Both had sails, but they evolved separately.1 2

迷思破解王

迷思： Dimetrodon is a dinosaur.

真相： Dimetrodon is not a dinosaur. It is a synapsid, which means it is more closely related to mammals, including humans, than to dinosaurs.1 2

給恐龍專家

學名: Dimetrodon
命名者: Cope 18783
類群: 史前傳奇
科 / 演化支: Sphenacodontidae3
分類: Synapsida > Sphenacodontia > Sphenacodontidae3
岩石的年代: 299 到 267 百萬年 (Asselian / Roadian)3
岩層: Vale, Arroyo, Belle Plains3
國家: 美國, 加拿大, 德國3
化石紀錄: The Paleobiology Database 收錄 94 筆3
發現: Dimetrodon was named by the American paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1878, based on fossils found in Texas.1 3
仍有爭議: Scientists still debate whether the sail of Dimetrodon was mainly used for temperature control, display, or something else.1