Jurassic
From 200 million to 145 million years
How the Jurassic Period got its name
The Jurassic time period's name is from the Jura Mountains between France and Switerland where they first found rocks from this age.
Location and climate
At this time Pangaea was just starting and south America was just separating from south Africa. Also the warm and moist greenhouse climate or better known as a tropical climate. Lots of water gave it its humidity. There was no polar ice during the last two-thirds of the Jurassic period. There were vast flooded areas, temperate and subtropical forests, and coral reefs. The extensive water moderated the strong seasonality.
The start of mammals
Dinosaurs may have been the dominant land animals, but they were not alone. Early mammals were mostly very small herbivores or insectivores and were not in competition with the larger reptiles
Dinosaurs
Proceratosaurus
A medium sized theropod. It had a small crest on its nose, and its teeth curved strongly backwards.
Cryolophosaurus
Had an unusual horizontal crest on its head. The crest ran from ear to ear. It was probably used for display, to attract mates.(These dinosaurs are only meat eating dinosaurs found in Antarctica).
Megapnosaurus
Was closely related to Coelophysis, and like Coelophysis, it also may have hunted and lived in packs. The size and structure of its eyes suggest that it may have been active mainly at night. Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be names in 1824
- Theropods became the largest meat-eaters ever to live on land during this period.
- Also Jurassic Theropods were larger and more fearsome than their Triassic ancestors.
- Early in the Jurassic Period, a group of small theropods gave rise to the first birds.
Sources
- Cryolophosaurus. N.d. Http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs38/i/2008/363/d/7/Cryolophosaurus_by_PaleoPastori.jpg, n.p.
- .Megapnosaurus. N.d. Https://sauropedia.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/megapnosaurus-kayentakatae.jpg, n.p
- .Pangaea. N.d. Http://mail.colonial.net/~hkaiter/Aaa_web_images2012/pangaea.png, n.p.
.Proceratosaurus. N.d. Http://10.10.2.1:8080/ibreports/images/bi.jpg?fn=Default&fp=1&ip=10.20.15.86&ibip=10.10.2.1&ldu=0&re=0&bu=imageproxy.jxs.cz/~nd01/jxs/cz~/105/840/bf45a74461_34973672_o2.jpg&bc=Website%20contains%20prohibited%20Web%20Proxies%20content.#,
The World Book Encyclopedia J-K. Vol. 11. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2014. Print
Fierce Dinosaurs!: The Large Theropods. Chicago: World Book, 2013. Print.
"Jurassic : Jurassic Climate and Tectonic Activity." Jurassic : Jurassic Climate and Tectonic Activity. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/jurassic/