Dimetrodon

"Running into a Dimetrodon in Jurassic Park would have been an interesting experience - and a dangerous one!" - Kenner collector card

Dimetrodon was a mammal-like reptile (Therapsid Synapsid) that lived between 280-265 million years ago during the Permian period. Specimens are found in North America and Europe. The most distinctive characteristic of Dimetrodon was the large sail on its back. Fifteen species are documented, the largest species could become 4 meters long and have a weight of 300 kg, while the smallest where 90 cm long and had a weight of 14 kg. Dimetrodon is the most famous non-mesozoic reptile, Dimetrodon is often erroneously seen as a dinosaur or as living alongside dinosaurs.

This information stood on the collector card from the Kenner toyline:

'Scientists once speculated that Dimetrodon's unique dorsal structure was used as a sail to help the animal swim. Now, however, the more widely accepted explanation is that the spines were involved in regulating body temperature, as blood flowing through the sail could be warmed or cooled more quickly than in the rest of the body.'

More real-life information: Dimetrodon at Wikipedia.

Jurassic Park Series
Dimetrodon doesn't appear in the novels nor the movies. But because the creature is so well-known it appears in Jurassic Park inspired games and toylines (alongside with many other non-dinosaurian creatures).

Comic books
Dimetrodon in Jurassic Park: Redemption is only seen in two images, it’s one of the many new species of prehistoric animals that is intended to be in the new Jurassic Park that Tim Murphy and the “unknown” investor created. The cover of issue three though depicts a large Dimetrodon on top of a car in a car lot.

Even though Dimetrodon is a carnivore, it’s seen eating the hay that is in its pen. This is one of the many scientific inaccuracies in Jurassic Park: Redemption. This suggests that it may instead be an Edaphosaurus, a herbivorous relative of Dimetrodon, although it more closely resembles Dimetrodon.

Jurassic Park inspired games
Dimetrodon is an enemy in the Jurassic Park (NES game).

Dimetrodon is briefly mentioned in the intro of the Human Hunter of The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Be on careful lookout for Baryonyx, Barasuchus, and Dimetrodon. Later it is shown in the intro of the Velociraptor level, Dimetrodon is said to be a prey of Velociraptor. They were originally going to appear "physically" in the InGen Complex Human Hunter level, but was cut, replaced by the Deinonychus according to the Raptor Gallery. It also appeared in the T. rex intro.

Dimetrodon is a Carnivore that can be created from DNA in Jurassic Park III: Park Builder.

Toylines

 * A 15 centimetres long, the Dimetrodon action figure appeared in the Kenner's Jurassic Park Series 1. Together with a JP-Card, this Dimetrodon looks very good both in details and sculpture, though the legs are, however a bit short. The same figure was repainted for Jurassic Park: Dinosaurs.

Links

 * Dimetrodon action figure at JPToys