The Triassic Period
Taylor O'Connell- Norman- Period 6
about 248 to 199 million years ago
Definition Words-
- Archosauromorpha: is made up of three Greek roots that mean "ancient lizard forms"
- Proliferate: Increase rapidly in numbers; multiply: "magazines proliferated in the 1920s".
- Dicynodont: any of a suborder (Dicynodontia) of small herbivorous therapsid reptiles with reduced dentition
- Ginkgo trees: large trees, normally reaching a height of 20–35 m (66–115 feet), with some specimens in China being over 50 m (164 feet)
- Sundering: Split apart
- Conodonts: snake-like creatures (having tooth-like projections) elements of 0.3 mm to 3 mm in length, with a shape varying from coniform (tooth-like) to ramiform (bars) to pectiniform (plates).
- Ichthyosaurs: looked like fish, they were not; averaged 2–4 meters (7–13 ft) in length; with a propoise-like head and a long, toothed snout. Built for speed, like modern tuna, some ichthyosaurs also appear to have been deep divers, like some modern whales; could swim at speeds up to 25 mph
- Synapses: a structure that permits a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another cell (neural or otherwise)
Background information on the Triassic Period-
The Triassic Period is the first geological period of the Mesozoic Era or "Age of Reptiles". It was during this time that Archosauromorph reptiles achieved dominance on land, and many types of marine reptiles roamed the seas. The Triassic period was a time of change, with some plants becoming extinct and others starting to proliferate. Ferns, cycads and conifers were common during this period. The Middle Triassic period, for its part, was notable for the many changes that took place as well. Suddenly, there were more carnivores and four-legged predators.
Organisms in the Period-
What was earth like?
What was happening with Pangaea?
Pangaea had stayed the same for millions of years, covering about one quarter of the world’s surface, but by the latter portion of the Triassic period, tectonic forces at last had their way and Pangaea began to fracture.
The first phase of deconstruction involved the sundering of the eastern landmasses allowing most of the water from the Panthalassic Ocean to flow westward, creating the Tethys Ocean and flooding many continental margins. After the Tethys Ocean formed, Pangaea continued to tear apart as the second phase of dismantling produced two large groups of continents; Laurasia held North America, Europe, and Asia while Gondwana held South America, Africa, Antarctica India, and Australia. As these two continental groups split from one another, a deep rift appeared along the eastern borders of what would become the North American continent. This great trench, called the Tethys Seaway, separated North America from Europe and Africa and would eventually form the Atlantic Ocean. Other geological changes included the formation of mountains (in China, Japan and along the western coast-lands of North and South America) which in turn prevented the flow of damp air from the oceans, further intensifying the arid environments in the continents.
The ending of the Triassic Period
Cites-
- http://dinosaurs.sciencedaily.com/d/d/Triassic
- http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/mesozoic/triassic/
- http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/triassic-period/
- http://dsc.discovery.com/video-topics/other/dinosaur-videos/triassic-period-reptiles-rule.htm
- http://eonsepochsetc.com/Mesozoic/Triassic/Tri_Continents/Continents.html
- http://palaeos.com/mesozoic/triassic/triassic.htm
- http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/geology/eras/triassic.htm
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/history_of_the_earth/Triassic
- http://www.nature.com/news/dark-days-of-the-triassic-lost-world-1.9375
- http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/animals-that-roamed-triassic-period
- http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/animals-that-roamed-triassic-period
- http://palaeos.com/mesozoic/triassic/triassic.htm