What is Edaphosaurus?
{{italictitle}} {{Taxobox | name = ''Edaphosaurus'' | fossil_range = [[Upper Carboniferous]] to Lower [[Permian]], 300–280 mya | image = Edaphosaurus boanerges - AMNH - DSC06319.JPG | image_width = 280px | image_caption = ''Edaphosaurus'' at [[AMNH]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | subphylum = [[Vertebrata]] | subordo = [[Sphenacodontia]] | superfamilia = [[Sphenacodontoidea]] | classis = [[Synapsid]]a | ordo = [[Pelycosaur]]ia | familia = [[Edaphosauridae]] | genus = '''''Edaphosaurus''''' | genus_authority = [[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1882 in paleontology|1882]] }} == Descrpition == [[Image:Edaphosaurus skull.png|thumb|Skull of ''Edaphosaurus'' from the side and top]] '''''Edaphosaurus''''' was a genus of non[[Reptile|-reptilian]] [[pelycosaur]] (early [[Synapsida]]) that lived during the later [[Carboniferous]] and early [[Permian]], around 303.4 million-272.5 million years ago. It was a [[herbivore|herbivorous]] relative of the well-known ''[[Dimetrodon]]''. Both had a large, thermal regulating sail on the back. Fossils of ''Edaphosaurus'' have been found in [[Europe]] and [[North America]]. ''Edaphosaurus'' species measured from {{convert|0.5|m|ft|1}} to almost {{convert|3.5|m|ft|1}} in length and weighed over 300 kilograms (660 [[Pound (mass)|lb]]).<ref name=Palaeos>{{cite web|title=Edaphosaurus|url=http://palaeos.com/vertebrates/synapsida/edaphosauridae2.html#Edaphosaurus|website=Palaeos|accessdate=22 May 2015}}</ref> It was slightly taller and stockier than ''Dimetrodon'', but like its pelycosaur relatives had a small head, and a long tail. == Skull == The head of ''Edaphosaurus'' was rather small for its body size. The deep lower jaw likely had powerful muscles and the teeth along the front and sides of its jaws could crop bite-sized pieces from tough plants. The roof of the mouth and the inside of the lower jaw had batteries of peg-like teeth. They were a crushing and grinding surface. Early descriptions suggested that ''Edaphosaurus'' fed on [[molluscs]], which it