Home > Diorama > Dinosaur Explorer > Edaphosaurus The Edaphosaurus (which literally means "pavement lizard") was an herbivorous (plant-eating) reptilian pelycosaur (a close relative of the dinosaur). Edaphosaurus lived during the late Carboniferous and early Permian period, approximately 320 - 258 million years ago. The most distinctive feature of the Edaphosaurus was a row of long spines that grew out of its backbone. It is thought that a layer of skin forming a thermoregulatory "sail" covered these spines. This quadruped measured about 11 feet in length and weighed approximately 660 pounds. It lived in wet areas (primarily in swamps and near lakes) and ate rough plant material that it crushed with its flat teeth. Its fossils have been found in both Europe and in North America. Two Edaphosauruses can be found in the diorama at Universe of Energy and are located in the "marsh" scene (the "holding area", where the Travelling Theater vehicles are still in "6-Pack" formation) to the right of the vehicles.