Edaphosauridae is a family of extinct synapsids that lived during the late Carboniferous to early Permian periods, approximately 300 million years ago. These creatures are known for their distinctive sail-like structures on their backs, formed by elongated neural spines. They were primarily herbivorous and adapted to a variety of terrestrial environments. Members of the Edaphosauridae family are often confused with their more famous relatives, the Dimetrodon, which belong to a different group. Edaphosaurids were generally smaller and had a more robust body, with teeth suited for grinding plant material. Their unique adaptations highlight the diversity of early synapsid evolution.