Species
Sphenacodon ferox
Sphenacodon feroxSphenacodon ferox was a dominant terrestrial predator that prowled the equatorial floodplains of southwestern North America during the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian periods. Unlike its sail-backed cousin Dimetrodon, it possessed sturdy, blade-like neural spines that supported a low crest of powerful back and neck musculature. Its specialized dentition featured prominent canine-like stabbing teeth, giving it the mechanical leverage to hunt sturdy contemporary tetrapods.
SynapsidApex Predator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyDiadectes, Eryops, Small early tetrapods
ThreatsLate Paleozoic climatic shifts and ecological turnover (extinct)
HabitatsAncient river deltas, floodplains, and seasonally dry lowland basins
Life spanUnknown (extinct fossil species)
Classification
- FamilySphenacodontidae
- SpeciesSphenacodon ferox
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species; known only from fossilized skeletal remains.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Identification: Look for short, blade-like neural spines along the back rather than the thin spines of Dimetrodon.
- Museum Displays: Inspect mounted skull casts to examine the enlarged canine teeth that foreshadowed mammalian dentition.
Prey Jonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor jonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor Jonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Dmitry Bogdanov / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.