| “ | Diictodon - a hardy little burrower, just half a metre long. Small and ugly, in a kind of cute way. | „ |
| — Allen, about Diictodon in Desert Monsters | ||
Diictodon (name meaning "Two Weasel Teeth") is a genus of pylaecephalid dicynodont that originated during the Late Permian era in what is now Africa. Measuring half a meter long, this small, herbivorous mammal-like reptile was one of the most successful creatures in the Permian.
In the Series 1 episode "Desert Monsters" several pairs of Diictodon were brought to the park from Late Permian Siberia, 250 million years ago. They reside in the Underground Hotel Enclosure. One pair were eventually named Nancy and Sid.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
Physical Attributes[]
Diictodon measured approximately 45 centimetres in length. They possessed a barrel-like body with strong legs, and a large head which ended in a small beak with a pair of tusks protruding from the upper-jaw. Diictodon also had large round eyes, and white and brown patterns on their skin.
Behavior & Traits[]
Diictodon skeleton
More adaptable than other animals of their time, Diictodon lived as pairs in spiral-shaped burrows dug deep underground, which not only remained cool even in the desert heat, but this way of life also allowed them to survive during sand storms, and they would often find plant tubers that held enough water and nutrients to keep them going for several months.
While several pairs of Diictodon could be neighbours, but that wouldn't make them a colony. They competed ferociously for the sparse vegetation that is their food. And this frequently led to confrontations. These clashes were one reason why both males and females sported a pair of short tusks. However Diictodon did have one big advantage when living in a crowd. If a neighbor spotted danger, then everyone soon knew about it and could take action to protect themselves.
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