Fossil skulls of the Dimetrodon show that it had large, strong bones in its head for the attachment of the jaw muscles. Why is this adaptation helpful?
Answers
Explanation:
Dimetrodon (/daɪˈmiːtrədɒn/ (About this soundlisten) or /daɪˈmɛtrədɒn/, meaning "two measures of teeth") is an extinct genus of non-mammalian synapsid that lived during the Cisuralian (Early Permian), around 295–272 million years ago (Ma).It is a member of the family Sphenacodontidae. The most prominent feature of Dimetrodon is the large neural spine sail on its back formed by elongated spines extending from the vertebrae. It walked on four legs and had a tall, curved skull with large teeth of different sizes set along the jaws. Most fossils have been found in southwestern United States, the majority coming from a geological deposit called the Red Beds of Texas and Oklahoma. More recently, fossils have been found in Germany. Over a dozen species have been named since the genus was first erected in 1878.
Answer:
Dimetrodon is a predatory carnivore. Hence, this adaptation helps them in ripping and tearing flesh.
Explanation:
- Skulls of dimetrodon had large, strong bones attached to the jaw muscles because of the evolution of specialized teeth.
- Dimetrodon had two sets of teeth; small and large. It is named on this basis, as dimetrodon means “two measures of tooth”.
- Canines cut and slice the flesh, and incisors shear off flesh chunks.
- Hence, these strong bones in the skull provide strength to the jaw muscles because their food is meat. This adaptation while the evolution of the teeth was required for dimetrodon.
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