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Description
Reconstruction of ophiacodontid Ophiacodon mirus, from the late Carboniferous - early Permian of New-Mexico (USA).
This time I decided to finally draw a non-mammalian synapsid. Ophiacodon is the most famous and largest member of its family. It had big and long skull. Jaws carried small and sharp teeth suggesting a diet consisting mainly of animals with slippery covers (i.e. fishes and amphibians). Most often Ophiacodon was considered to be land-living animals, but some scientists, for example, E. Case in 1907, suggested an aquatic lifestyle. Currently, there is no single conclusion about its lifestyle, there is evidence for both land-living and amphibious. An interesting feature of this genus is the presence of fibrolamellar bone tissue, usually found in warm-blooded animals. This may indicate the beginnings of endothermy. On the other hand, the same tissue was found in some ectotherms, so it is too early to come to certain conclusions.
Integument based on different evidence. First, the imprint of abdominal scales in association with ichnotaxon Dimetropus lesnerianus from Poland, presumably belonging to the primitive pelycosaurian (Niedzwiedzki and Bojanowski, 2012). Further, the scales of ophiacodontid Archaeothyris florensis (Reisz, 1975). And, of course, quite recently described varanopid Ascendonanus nestleri. 
I decided to combine these types of scales in this drawing. The rest of the body covered with just bare skin. I don't know how reliable that is. In any case, the prints of Ophiacodon's covers are still unknown.
I decided to combine these types of scales in this drawing. The rest of the body covered with just bare skin. I don't know how reliable that is. In any case, the prints of Ophiacodon's covers are still unknown.Black ink pen, 2018.
Image size
3402x1585px 319.91 KB
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Comments20
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Really synapsids fascinate me with how they resemble reptiles but are much more closely related to mammals.