Advertisement
Advertisement
dimetrodon
[ dahy-me-truh-don ]
noun
- an extinct carnivorous mammallike reptile, of the genus Dimetrodon, dominant in North America during the Permian Period, up to 10 feet (3.1 meters long and usually bearing spinal sails.
dimetrodon
/ dī-mĕt′rə-dŏn′ /
- An extinct, carnivorous reptile of the genus Dimetrodon of the Permian Period having a body similar to an alligator's but with a tall, curved sail on its back. The sail had a thick network of blood vessels and may have been used to regulate the animal's body temperature. The dimetrodon belonged to the synapsids, an early group of reptiles that was ancestral to mammals.
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of dimetrodon1
Discover More
Example Sentences
The adductor musculature of the lower jaw in Dimetrodon was divided into lateral and medial groups (Figs. 5, 6).
Thrinaxodon represents an advance beyond Dimetrodon in several respects.
A similar origin suggests itself for the corresponding muscle, the second major adductor mass, in Dimetrodon.
The dentition of Dimetrodon further substantiates the movement of the jaw in a simple up and down direction.
Watson believed that the jaw of Dimetrodon was capable of anteroposterior sliding.
Advertisement
Word of the Day
[in-vet-er-it ]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse