Museum features Dimetrodon, an ancient critter that roamed Texoma
In our state, we have some of the most interesting critters around – from the recognizable spikes of the Texas Horned Lizard to the amusing antics of the nosy armadillo.
But, do know about some critters that roamed the wild Texas land around 290 million years ago? One of those critters, is the mighty, majestic, Dimetrodon.
This ancient Texas critter dominated the ecosystem right here in the Texoma area. How do we know about this creature? Well, if you visit the Whiteside Museum of Natural History in Seymour, Texas, you can find out how!
Fossils of this fascinating creature are being dug up, cleaned off, sorted, and restored while you watch in the working laboratory at the museum. Museum staff members and volunteers are continuously working on putting the pieces together to help us learn more about this creature and how it lived in an amazing environment full of vicious, biting critters.
The word “dimetrodon” actually comes from a word that means “two measures tooth.” Up until this time period, many animals had only one type of tooth, but this Permian Period animal had more than one tooth shape, just like many current mammals. Some of their teeth had a sharp, serrated edge for shearing through flesh of their prey. Others were used for pinning or gripping.
The Dimetrodon is a reptile-like animal that has many mammal-like characteristics. It is known for having a huge sail structure along its spine which still causes many to wonder, “what is the sail’s purpose?”
Some scientists think that it might have something to do with helping the animal regulate temperature, while others say that it was used to show dominance or attract a mate. Whatever the function of the unique sail, it makes the Dimetrodon a creature with many bones; which is good thing since bones are usually the part of a critter that can be preserved over time.
Museum Director and paleontologist, Chris Flis, announced that April 5 has been declared International Dimetrodon Day! This was the day in 1878 when the word “Dimetrodon” was first spoken in a public forum by E.D. Cope, one of the earliest to find and study this creature.
Special events and information will be shared on this day about one of the most interesting, but “not so celebrated” of all Texas critters. You and your family could visit the museum this day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids can make or color a drawing of the critter, or just get out and celebrate by biting into some delicious food with your specialized teeth, just like this toothy critter would have done many years ago.
Whatever you do, keep celebrating all the awesome critters that we have once lived and are still living in our great state of Texas!
To find our more about the Whiteside Museum of Natural History, visit their website at: www.whitesidemuseum.org.
Lynn Seman is a Texas Master Naturalist.