Species · GBIF taxon 9259664
Theropleura grandis
Theropleura grandisDimetrodon grandis was one of the apex terrestrial predators of the Early Permian, instantly recognizable by its towering dorsal sail supported by elongated vertebral neural spines. Its skull housed differentiated teeth adapted for slicing through thick hide and bone, representing an early evolutionary stage along the synapsid lineage leading toward mammals. Dominating equatorial floodplains over 270 million years ago, it stalked wetland margins to hunt large amphibians and freshwater aquatic prey.
CarnivorousPrehistoric
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Diplocaulus magnicornis
- Eryops megacephalus
- Xenacanthus sharks
ThreatsClimatic drying and ecosystem restructuring in the Late Permian
HabitatsPermian floodplains, deltaic wetlands, and river basins
Life spanEstimated 20–30 years
Classification
- FamilySphenacodontidae
- SpeciesTheropleura grandis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric animal known exclusively from the fossil record.
Responsible observation
- Museum Displays: Study articulated skeletons preserved in premier natural history museum exhibits.
- Fossil Stewardship: Leave suspected Permian vertebrate fossils in place and notify regional paleontologists.
Image unavailablePrey 
Prey jonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Contemporary Jonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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