Before the first dinosaur ever walked the Earth, the Permian period teemed with bizarre and fascinating creatures. Mattel’s Jurassic World line has occasionally stepped back in time to this era, bringing to life some of the most iconic “pre-dinosaurs”: the synapsids and reptiles that set the stage for what was to come.
Let’s travel through time and rediscover these ancient trailblazers, from the sail-backed giants to the stocky survivors who outlasted the greatest extinction in Earth’s history.
Edaphosaurus
One of the earliest known large herbivores, Edaphosaurus is instantly recognizable by the impressive sail running down its back, a feature it shares with its more famous carnivorous cousin, Dimetrodon. Mattel’s version captures this odd mix of prehistoric bulk and elegance with a broad, spined sail and earthy color tones reminiscent of a sun-baked Permian plain.
Though it lived nearly 295 million years ago, Edaphosaurus laid the groundwork for the herbivorous reptiles and mammals to come.
Dimetrodon
If any creature symbolizes the Permian, it’s Dimetrodon. Despite its dinosaur-like look, this sail-backed predator was actually more closely related to mammals than to any dinosaur. Mattel’s take on Dimetrodon has appeared in multiple color variants, from vibrant greens to sandy browns, each emphasizing the menacing shape of its fin and toothy grin.
Dimetrodon made a memorable return in Jurassic World Dominion, where a group of these ancient predators lurked within the amber caves, marking the first time a Permian creature appeared on-screen in the franchise.
In the Early Permian, Dimetrodon ruled the rivers and swamps, the undisputed top predator long before the first Jurassic hunter evolved.
Scutosaurus
By the Late Permian, creatures like Scutosaurus roamed the arid landscapes of Pangaea. This heavy, armor-plated herbivore was built like a tank, with thick skin and bony plates for protection. Mattel’s Scutosaurus stands out with its detailed texturing, each scale and plate evoking the resilience of life on a dying world.
As drought and climate change swept across the continents, Scutosaurus endured until the very end of the Permian, a symbol of survival against the odds. Also against the odds: Mattel produced three versions of creature8
Inostrancevia
Inostrancevia was one of the fiercest predators of the Late Permian, roaming what is now Russia approximately 260 to 254 million years ago. This gorgonopsid possessed long, saber-like canine teeth and a sleek, mammal-like skull, making it an apex hunter of its time. Its lithe yet powerful body allowed it to ambush prey with speed and precision, and its fearsome appearance has long fascinated paleontologists and collectors alike.
Lystrosaurus
When almost all life perished during the Great Dying 252 million years ago, Lystrosaurus emerged as one of the few survivors. This stocky, tusked herbivore went on to dominate the Early Triassic: a living bridge between the age of reptiles and the dawn of the dinosaurs.
Mattel’s rendition of Lystrosaurus, packed with three late Jurassic Guanlong, captures that tenacity perfectly. The species also appeared briefly in Jurassic World Dominion, delighting fans as one of the most unexpected cameos of the film.
What’s missing?
While Mattel has brought several Permian creatures to life, a few iconic species remain absent from the toy line. Collectors and fans alike continue to dream of figures such as Estemmenosuchus, with its bizarre horned head, Moschops, the squat, tank-like herbivore, Lycaenops, the canine-like creature that was part of Kenner’s 1994 toyline and Diplocaulus, the boomerang-headed amphibian whose unique shape is instantly recognizable. These species represent some of the most extraordinary examples of Permian evolution, and their inclusion in the Jurassic World line would expand the story of life before the dinosaurs even further.
Which Permian creature woud you like to see turned into a Mattel toy? Let us know in the comments.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
