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Description
After weeks without rain, a river arm has dried up and most of its inhabitants, like a unfortunate freshwater shark Xenacanthus, have died. A Dimetrodon discovers a pair of aestivating Diplocaulus in the riverbed, digs them out and devours them.

Dimetrodon could reach a length of 4.5 metres (15 ft) and is quite famous for its characterictic sail on its back. Despite its appearance, it is not a dinosaur but a synapsid, meaning it is more closely related to mammals. Diplocaulus was a 1 meter (3.3 ft) long amphibian with a boomerang-shaped head. Both the function of Dimetrodons sail and Diplocaulus' skull shape are heavily discussed among paleontologists.

The scene takes place in what is now Texas, around 295 million years ago during the Early Permian. This painting is based on the discovery of Diplocaulus remains that were buried in the ground and are thought to survive droughts that way like modern lungfish. Some of the skulls had bite marks that resemble Dimetrodon jaws.

Digital painting by Peter 'Paleo Pete' Nickolaus, 2023.

Description
After weeks without rain, a river arm has dried up and most of its inhabitants, like a unfortunate freshwater shark Xenacanthus, have died. A Dimetrodon discovers a pair of aestivating Diplocaulus in the riverbed, digs them out and devours them.

Dimetrodon could reach a length of 4.5 metres (15 ft) and is quite famous for its characterictic sail on its back. Despite its appearance, it is not a dinosaur but a synapsid, meaning it is more closely related to mammals. Diplocaulus was a 1 meter (3.3 ft) long amphibian with a boomerang-shaped head. Both the function of Dimetrodons sail and Diplocaulus' skull shape are heavily discussed among paleontologists.

The scene takes place in what is now Texas, around 295 million years ago during the Early Permian. This painting is based on the discovery of Diplocaulus remains that were buried in the ground and are thought to survive droughts that way like modern lungfish. Some of the skulls had bite marks that resemble Dimetrodon jaws.

Digital painting by Peter 'Paleo Pete' Nickolaus, 2023.