Ophiacodon
Encyclopedia
Ophiacodon was a large pelycosaur
. Its fossils were found in Joggins, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Ophiacodon was at least two meters in length, and the largest species were up to 3.6 metres (11.8 ft). It is estimated to have weighed from 30 to 50 kg (66.1 to 110.2 lb). The size of the various species increased during the Early Permian epoch until its extinction. It was a specialized member of the ophiacodontid
family.
The skull was deep, with long jaws, and provided with sharp teeth. Ophiacodon may have eaten fish
es in streams and ponds, although the high narrow skull would seem to argue against such a lifestyle.
Ophiacodon is related to other animals in the family Ophiacodontidae
, such as Archaeothyris
. Relatives of the Ophiacodontidae
seem to be ancestral to the therapsids, which gave rise to mammal
s.
Ophiacodon was featured in the Paleoworld
episode titled "Tail Of A Sail".
Pelycosaur
The pelycosaurs are an informal grouping composed of basal or primitive Late Paleozoic synapsid amniotes. Some species were quite large and could grow up to 3 meters or more, although most species were much smaller...
. Its fossils were found in Joggins, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Ophiacodon was at least two meters in length, and the largest species were up to 3.6 metres (11.8 ft). It is estimated to have weighed from 30 to 50 kg (66.1 to 110.2 lb). The size of the various species increased during the Early Permian epoch until its extinction. It was a specialized member of the ophiacodontid
Ophiacodontidae
Ophiacodontidae were pelycosaur synapsids. They appeared in the late Carboniferous period. Archaeothyris, and Clepsydrops were among the earliest Ophiacodontids. Archaeothyris and its relatives were the members of this family. Some ophiacodonts were semi-aquatic, and few were fully aquatic, but...
family.
The skull was deep, with long jaws, and provided with sharp teeth. Ophiacodon may have eaten fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es in streams and ponds, although the high narrow skull would seem to argue against such a lifestyle.
Ophiacodon is related to other animals in the family Ophiacodontidae
Ophiacodontidae
Ophiacodontidae were pelycosaur synapsids. They appeared in the late Carboniferous period. Archaeothyris, and Clepsydrops were among the earliest Ophiacodontids. Archaeothyris and its relatives were the members of this family. Some ophiacodonts were semi-aquatic, and few were fully aquatic, but...
, such as Archaeothyris
Archaeothyris
Archaeothyris was a very early mammal-like reptile, which lived in the late Carboniferous period. Dated to 306 million years ago, it is the oldest undisputed synapsid known....
. Relatives of the Ophiacodontidae
Ophiacodontidae
Ophiacodontidae were pelycosaur synapsids. They appeared in the late Carboniferous period. Archaeothyris, and Clepsydrops were among the earliest Ophiacodontids. Archaeothyris and its relatives were the members of this family. Some ophiacodonts were semi-aquatic, and few were fully aquatic, but...
seem to be ancestral to the therapsids, which gave rise to mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s.
Ophiacodon was featured in the Paleoworld
Paleoworld
Paleoworld was a documentary television series that was produced for The Learning Channel, and has had a total of 50 episodes. Some consider it to be the largest and most comprehensive paleontology series ever made. The series began in late September 1994 and, after 4 seasons, ended in 1997...
episode titled "Tail Of A Sail".