The Earth Through Time

Before the age of dinosaurs, and interesting group of reptiles known as pelycosaurs roamed the Earth. Many were similar in general form to large lizards. There were also bizarred-looking pelycosaurs exemplified by the late Permian reptile Dimetrodon. The erect sail is the hallmark of Dimetrodon. The sail probably helped the reptile regulate its body temperature. Dimetrodon was the top predator of it time, measuring over 3 meters in length. The reconstruction of ancient life and its habitats, as depicted here for the Permian Era, is one aspect of the diverse tasks of the historical geologist.