Baby Dimetrodon
leading preparatress of the fossil: Ronja Sonnenschein (employed 2024–2026)
Museum für Naturkunde Magdeburg
As part of an ongoing study, this baby Dimetrodon is of particular interest. As also known from likewise rare edaphosaurid babies, the back sail indicates a rather early onset during these pelycosaur life histories. A primary function associated with sexual selection is heavily debated since the first documentation from 1911! For Dimetrodon itself it has never been depicted, so this fossil greatly helps us to finally get it into the literature. Also nice to known: No other remains of Dimetrodon-type early synapsids were found outside North America except for the Bromacker species and this isolated find from Saxony.
The fossil slab was already exposing the bones of the lumbar region, hip and proximal tail. We managed to uncover some more details or formerly hidden portions of back spines. Once the preparation was finished, the specimen as mounted in its approximate position within the outline of its reconstruction. At the time of death, this juvenile measured around 0.7 m.