Dimetrodon: Our Most Unlikely Ancestor

PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to ↓ More info below ↓ To learn more about The Great Courses Plus* go to With its lizard-like appearance and that distinctive sail on it back, Dimetrodon is practically the mascot of the Palaeozoic Era, a time before flowers, birds, mammals, and even crocodiles. But if you take a close look at this sail-backed animal, you might see a little bit of yourself. Thanks to Franz Anthony and Studio 252mya for the Dimetrodon illustration. You can find more of Franz's work here: Produced for PBS Digital Studios. Want to follow Eons elsewhere on the internet? Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - References: *The Great Courses Plus is currently available to watch through a web browser to almost anyone in the world and optimized for the US market. The Great Courses Plus is currently working to both optimize the product globally and accept credit card payments globally.