Varanosaurus

Varanosaurus ('monitor lizard') is an extinct genus of early pelycosaur synapsid that lived during the early Permian (280 million years ago). As its name implies, Varanosaurus may have looked superficially similar to present-day monitor lizards. It had a flattened, elongated skull and a pointed snout with a row of sharp teeth, including two pairs of conspicuous pseudocanines, implying that it was an active predator. It was a small, nimble reptile, up to 1.5 m long.

Varanosaurus probably lived in swamps, competing with the larger Ophiacodon for food.