Page 56 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

Reptiles

branch out Effigia

Before the dinosaurs This synapsid had a Varanops used for display, but may

The sail was probably
barrel-shaped body.
have also helped it to
absorb or lose heat.

Moschops

The long limbs
enabled this hunter to
chase after small prey.

Dimetrodon had Dimetrodon
daggerlike canine teeth at
the front for tearing into flesh,
and numerous sharp-edged
Placerias
teeth at the back.

The two big
tusklike canine
teeth were probably
used for digging.
Ophiacodon

The semiaquatic
Ophiacodon could
use its powerful limbs
as paddles.

Long before the first dinosaurs, about lizardlike limbs. Some, including the predatory
320 million years ago, some reptiles Dimetrodon and plant-eating Edaphosaurus,
evolved into animals known as synapsids— had huge “sails” on their backs supported by
they would eventually give rise to the rodlike spine bones. Later, about 299 million
mammals. The earliest of these animals— years ago, these reptilelike animals gave rise to a
54 Ophiacodon and Varanops—had sprawling group of animals called dicynodonts—Placerias
54

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