Sphenacodon

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iSphenacodon
Fossil range: Early Permian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Synapsida
Order: Pelycosauria
(unranked) Eupelycosauria
Family: Sphenacodontidae
Genus: Sphenacodon
Species
  • Sphenacodon ferox
  • Sphenacodon ferocior

Sphenacodon was a pelycosaur that was 10 feet in length. As it name suggests, Sphenacodon belongs to the family Sphenacodontidae, a lineage that was related to Therapsids. Sphenacodon's vertebral spines were long, and probably acted as attachment points for massive back muscles, allowing the animal to lunge powerfully at its prey. Though the spines were long, it did not have a sail like Dimetrodon. However, it was closely related to Dimetrodon and other sphenacodontids. Sphenacodon lived in Early Permian in the North American region, more specifically, in Texas and New Mexico.