Name:
Sphenacodon
(Wedge tooth).
Phonetic: Sfee-nack-oh-don.
Named By: Othniel Charles Marsh - 1878.
Classification: Chordata, Synapsida, Pelycosauria,
Sphenacodontidae, Sphenacodontinae.
Species: S. ferox (type), S. britannicus,
S. ferocior.
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Around 2.5 meters long, possibly slightly
larger.
Known locations: USA, New mexico, Texas.
Time period: Sakmarian of the Permian.
Fossil representation: Enough remains for
indentification of three species.
Although
it did not have the large sail supporting spines that other pelycosaurs
like Dimetrodon,
Secodontosaurus,
Ctenospondylus
and Edaphosaurus
had, Sphenacodon still possessed
enlarged neural spines rising from its vertebrae. These are considered
to have
been the supports for powerful dorsal muscles that would allow
Sphenacodon to undertake powerful strikes towards is
prey, overpowering
its victim by sheer brute force.
Sphenacodon
also displays the large canine teeth at the front of its mouth for prey
capture, and the shearing teeth at the back for cutting bite sized
lumps of flesh. These teeth were typical for the later predatory
pelycosaurs.
Further reading
- New genera and species of pelycosaurian reptiles. - Proceedings of
the New England Zo�logical Club 16:89-95 - A. S. Romer - 1937.
- The skull of Sphenacodon ferocior, and
comparisons with other
sphenacodontines (Reptilia: Pelycosauria) - New Mexico Bureau of Mines
and Mineral Resources, Circular 90: 1–40. - D. A. Eberth - 1985.
- Redescription of the cranial anatomy of Sphenacodon ferox
Marsh
(Eupelycosauria, Sphenacodontidae) from the Late Pennsylvanian-Early
Permian of New Mexico - Bulletin. New Mexico Museum of Natural History
and Science 59: 159–184 - Justin A. Spielmann, Larry F. Rinehart,
Spencer G. Lucas, David S. Berman, Amy C. Henrici, Susan K. Harris -
2010.
- Comparative anatomy and osteohistology of hyperelongate neural spines
in the sphenacodontids Sphenacodon and Dimetrodon
(Amniota: Synapsida)
- Journal of Morphology 271: 1407–1421 - A. K. Huttenlocker, E. Rega
& S. S. Sumida - 2010.