View source for Dimetrodon

{{Stub Article}}
{{Species Infobox
|image=Art impression of Dimetrodon grandis.png
|name=Dimetrodon
|films=''Journey to the Center of the Earth<br>Jurassic World: Dominion''
|shows=''Power Rangers: Dino Thunder<br>Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger<br>DinoSquad<br>Dinosaur Train''
|games=''Jurassic World Evolution 2''
|home=Red Beds of Texas and Oklahoma|shorts=''Toy Story That Time Forgot''}}
The '''''Dimetrodon''''' is an extinct genus of synapsid that lived in North America and Europe during the Early Permian period.

== Description ==
Dimetrodon (pronounced /daɪˈmɛtrədɒn/), which translates to "two measures of teeth," was among the largest terrestrial creatures and served as the dominant predator during its era. Its diet likely consisted of freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles, and various other amniotes. Notable prey included the amphibian Eryops and the freshwater shark-like fish Xenacanthus. Fossil evidence shows that the humerus of Eryops and the skulls of Xenacanthus bore teeth marks that correspond to the shape of Dimetrodon’s teeth. It is believed that this species relied on its visual and olfactory senses for hunting. Dimetrodon exhibited a range in size from 2 to 5 meters (6.5 to 16 feet) in length and weighed between 14 and 300 kilograms (31 to 660 lbs). The bone structure suggests that it was ectothermic, possessing a low metabolic rate, as indicated by the few channels present in its bones, which point to limited circulatory function. Consequently, it required external heat sources for adequate metabolic processes.

The growth patterns of Dimetrodon remain somewhat ambiguous. Studies focusing on the length and ossification of the femur, ulna, and humerus reveal a weak correlation between size and relative age among individuals. There was a notable distinction in habitat preferences between juvenile and adult Dimetrodon. Younger specimens primarily inhabited environments rich in shelter, such as swamps and banks lined with reeds, while adults favored the more open expanses of floodplains.

Its tall spines formed a sail that was used to regulate its body temperature.

==Appearances==
* ''Dimetrodon'' appeared in BBC's Walking with Monsters depicted as an apex predator though being shown in an arid environment when in reality it lived in a more lush and tropical environment. A female mother is shown to be the main character of the second segment of the second episode whilst protecting her eggs.
* ''Dimetrodon'' appears in ''Jurassic World: The Game.''
* A ''Dimetrodon'' statue is seen in Benjamin Lockwood's museum in the Lockwood Manor in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
* A group of ''Dimetrodon'' were seen in the amber mines in Jurassic World: Dominion.
* ''Dimetrodon'' also appeared in the Zoo Tycoon 2 expansion pack Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals
* ''Dimetrodon'' appears in one entry in the ''Land Before Time'' franchise, and that is in the original 1988 film, ''Land Before Time''.
* In ''Jurassic World Dominion'', the ''Dimetrodon'' was cloned by Biosyn and they live in the Amber Mines.
* Dimetrodon is shown in ''Dinosaur Train''.
* ''Dimetrodon'' appears in ARK: Survival Evolved, where it is one of many creatures that the player can tame.
* ''Dimetrodon'' made heavily brief cameos while the sitcom Dinosaurs were on the air.
* The ''Dimetrodon'' appears in ''Toy Story That Time Forgot''.
* ''Dimetrodon sincillis'' made a cameo in the Poo-inators
* A cyan auxiliary zord based on the ''Dimetrodon'' appeared in ''Power Rangers: Dino Thunder''. One also appears periodically throughout Power Rangers series, ''Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger''.
* Journey to the Center of the Earth 1959 played by Rhinoceros Iguanas.
* ''Dimetrodon'' appears in the game Jurassic World Alive.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
JWCT Danger Pack Dimetrodon toy box.png
</gallery>

==Navigation==
{{Prehistoric}}
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Prehistoric characters]]
[[Category:Predators]]
[[Category:The Land Before Time characters]]
[[Category:Jurassic World characters]]
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[[Category:Disney characters]]
[[Category:Universal Studios characters]]
[[Category:Dinosaur Train characters]]