Dimetrodon

[sj@io.com (Steve Jackson)]

I have been looking for a way to put this fellow into DINO HUNT for several
reasons, not the least of which is so I can say "IT'S NOT A DINOSAUR!!"

But a problem is that I have no "Permian" slot in the game. He'd have to go
into the Triassic slot, which is grossly wrong and would have to be
explained. The way I'm doing it right now gives me the chance to explain
relict species, so that seems like a small win.

Here's my working text. Comments?


The sail-backed <I>Dimetrodon<$> is one of the best-known prehistoric
animals, and is often found in sets of dinosaur models, but it was not a
dinosaur.
It was a <I>sphenacodont,<$> and was more closely related to mammals than
to reptiles. It actually lived in the Permian Age, long before the
dinosaurs; to find one in the Triassic would be a surprise! It would be a
<I>relict species<$>, or "living fossil."
<I>Dimetrodon<$> was the biggest land-living predator of its time. The
"sail" on its back may have been to regulate its body temperature, or to
attract mates, or both.

Length: 10 feet (3 meters)
Height: 4 feet (1.2 meters) to top of sail
Weight: 250 lbs. (113.6 kg.)
Meaning of name: "Two Lengths of Teeth"
Pronunciation: die-MET-roe-don
Fossils found in North America (Texas . . . anywhere else???)

 Steve Jackson - yes, of SJ Games - yes, we won the Secret Service case
Learn Web or die - http://www.io.com/sjgames/ - dinosaurs, Lego, Kahlua!
          The heck with PGP keys; finger for Geek Code. Fnord.