Key Earth Science Links
Permian Period—The rise of mammal-like reptiles
Permian Period Animal Printouts, Enchanted Learning-Zoom Dinosaurs. Brief, inadequate summary of the Permian Period, but good non-technical descriptions of the famous Permian amphibian Eryops, and the sail-backed pelycosaurs, including Dimetrodon. Fact sheets, K-3 appropriate printouts, and classroom activities are provided.
The Therapsids in Detail, Stephen Priestley. An excellent online guide to an inexpensive paperback book developed by the author. The Web site provides useful, easy-to-understand information and color images that can be used without the accompanying book. Keep advancing through pages by clicking on the "more details" button for images of different types of therapsids, as well as nice diagrams showing changes in the jaw and tooth structure of different families of Permian therapsids. The fierce-looking Gorgonopsians are discussed several pages into the site.
Introduction to the Pelycosaurs--Synapsids with Attitude, University of California, Berkeley. Short description of the pelycosaurs, a group of animals including the famous sail-backed synapsids (mammal-like reptiles) Dimetrodon and Edaphosaurus.