...is not a dinosaur.

This blog is a result of an erroneous claim; one day I referred to Dimetrodon as a mammal-like reptile in front of a vertebrate paleomammalogist. These animals are not at all members of Reptilia; they are Synapsids - four-legged, back-boned animals that span back 315 million years on a completely different evolutionary branch of the tree of life. We even made a video about it: Dimetrodon is Not a Dinosaur. Since then, I've found Dimetrodon partying with members of Dinosauria across the pages of coloring books and frolicking in the aisles of toy stores, surrounded by lifeforms which evolved some 66 million years after those ancient mammalian relatives. Submit your photos of any number of creatures - Synapsids, Pterosaurs, Ichthyosaurs - that have been tragically mislabeled. For funsies. This blog was created and is managed by Emily Graslie of The Brain Scoop.

[isnotadinosaur]

A Field Museum gift shop oopsie

[isnotadinosaur]

My favourite place in Sydney, the Australian Museum, is selling this cute little illustrated book (‘Animals of a bygone era’ by Maja Säfström) that I brought for an overseas friend, and while going through the pages I had a thought for you! It’s a win!

emily: <3 oh yey

[isnotadinosaur]

Was passing through Yellowstone after the eclipse, and I stopped in a store and happened to see some toy dinosaurs for sale. Sure enough, dimetrodon was among them. You’d think that a national park might do better than your average store, but apparently not.

emily: well maybe they haven’t seen Eons’ new episode yet about Dimetrodon, my beautiful son 

[isnotadinosaur]

Dinosaurs Memory Card Game

After listening to you on the “No Dumb Questions” podcast, I decided to dig up my son’s dino memory cards, and sure enough there was Dimetrodon! 🙄

emily: SEE?! also if you missed it listen to me on No Dumb Questions !!!!!! with Destin Sandlin and his friend Matt Whittman it’s real neat 

[isnotadinosaur]

The eraser’s kinda cool but it’s still not a dinosaur

emily: erase the MISTAKE ERASE IT 

[isnotadinosaur]

“Dinos-Breakfast”… I am disappointed.

That purple snake-neck “Diplodocus” at the top caught my attention, but then I noticed the pterosaur.

Emily: i’m so hungry now 

[isnotadinosaur]

You probably have heard of the dinosaur family tree shakeup. As a side effect, some people are debating whether Dinosauria should only contain the traditional Ornithischia + Theropoda lineages, OR redefine it to include Sauropodomorphs. What this means to your blog: Brontosaurus may no longer be a dinosaur. Good luck explaining that to people.

what?! damnit 

[isnotadinosaur]

Product marketed as “educational” with glaring scientific errors! Link: http://www.michaels.com/safari-ltd-good-luck-minis-dino-fun-pack/10382708.html

emily: UH OOOOOOOOH SNAP 

[252mya]

The Age of Fishes

Meet six fishes of the Paleozoic in this poster by @paleoart.

—

252MYA.com

[franzanth]

I helped with this! Go get yours now!

[isnotadinosaur]

these fishes are not dinosaurs

[typhlonectes]

New species of dicynodont from the Karoo Basin of South Africa

Let's go back to the Permian period, around 260 million years. Life was quite blissful, with no dinosaurs tearing up the turf as of yet.

Animals from this period were bizarre experimentations, with early ancestors evolving for some of the well-known groups still around today, like crocodiles, turtles and mammals.

Some of these include the dicynodonts, who despite looking more ‘reptilian’, are actually the precursors of early mammals. They were pretty weird looking, like a cross between a turtle and a wild boar.

Dicynodonts, mammals and all other animals more closely related to mammals than any other egg-laying animals are called 'synapsids’, and a pretty important group. Even humans are synapsids, so dicynodonts are like our great, great, great (etc.) grand-cousins.

A new species of dicynodont has been described from the Karoo Basin of South Africa, which researchers have dubbed Bulbasaurus phylloxyron. Pokémon fans around the world rejoice! …

[isnotadinosaur]

BULBASAURUS. 

[isnotadinosaur]

Players Handbook for D&D

Emily: I know it’s a fantasy game but c’mon D&D

[isnotadinosaur]

One of these things is not like the others!

-- always

thank you @peacefulminimalist for the submission! 

[eartharchives]

Permia, the dawn of wearable prehistory

With holiday season coming up, science-themed gifts have started popping up all over the internet. Meet the siblings behind Permia, who aim to spread their love of paleontology through their line of apparel.

It’s time for sciency holiday gifts!

[isnotadinosaur]

YAAASSSSSS

[estrellavega]

The Paleozoic: a series about life before the dinosaurs

Five accordion books covering 280 million years of prehistoric life, that together, create one continuous image 42 ft long.

My Kickstarter project is LIVE! Please reblog and share the link…because by myself, I don’t know that many people. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2133134630/the-paleozoic-a-series-about-life-before-the-dinos

[eartharchives]

5 books, 42 feet long, 280 million years worth of story. One more paleo art project worth backing!

[franzanth]

I can see that this project took a lot of effort and planning, so please help her spread the word, folks!

[eartharchives]

It’s getting closer. We can do this!

[isnotadinosaur]

Sooo many cool organisms! and not a single dinosaur 

[isnotadinosaur]

The sign says: Correct your mistakes with a beautiful eraser. Dino-eraser, 19 kronor.

Well…

Emily: the irONY 

[isnotadinosaur]

Not only is Dimetrodon on this, but so is Dimorphodon! I found this at the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University. However, the exhibit is extremely accurate, feathered dinosaurs and all!

Emily: ooooooh 

P.S. I somehow overlooked literally a hundred submissions to this blog?? Stay tuned.

[estrellavega]

Accordion book about the Permian period. Silkscreen printed with 6 colors. After 5 years, I have finished creating an accordion book for every period of the Paleozoic ( although I grouped the Ordovician and Silurian into one book)….phew! 

Before I tackle the Mesozoic (which thankfully is only three periods long), I am now planning a Kickstarter to have thePaleozoic books professionally printed. So stick around for more news on that. I’m currently working on the rewards for that and I’m also waiting to get a shipping estimate from the printer.

[isnotadinosaur]

Aww I love this!! Look at all of those lovely Permian dicynodonts aka not dinosaurs.