Many Movies have brought Dinosaurs to the Big Screen for all of us to Marvel in Amazement. The Jurassic Park & World Movies are probably the most famous. The Jurassic Period is only one of the of three Periods Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth. The Triassic Period (251 – 199 Million Years Ago), Jurassic Period (199 -145 Million Years Ago) and Cretaceous Period (145 – 65 Million Years Ago) make up the Mesozoic Era when these most magnificent and diverse animals came to dominate the Earth.
Approximately 230 Million Years Ago in the Triassic Period the first Dinosaurs appeared as small carnivores running about on 2 legs. They evolved into an incredible array of species that spread worldwide. They lasted 160 Million Years until a Catastrophic Extinction ended their Global Dominance! Humans have been Fascinated by Dinosaurs for Two Centuries! And will probably be Amazed by Dinosaurs for Centuries to come.
The Triassic Period (251 – 199 Million Years Ago)
At the end of the previous Period the Permian (299 – 251 Million Years Ago) a mass extinction of up to 95% of Species on the Planet took place! The Triassic brought the opportunity for rebirth on a grand scale. During the Late Triassic Pterosaurs begin their reign in the Skies that lasted until the extinction of the Dinosaurs. Many mistakenly refer to Pterosaurs as Dinosaurs! They are not Dinosaurs. They are cousins of Dinosaurs from a different branch of the Family Tree. Pterosaurs were as small as a mosquito to Quetzalcoatlus which was as big as a F-16 fighter jet!
Eoraptor is one of the first Dinosaurs approximately 3 feet long and 12 inches in height. It’s combination of knife-like teeth and leaf-shaped teeth suggest it ate meat and plants. Another Early Dinosaur Herrerasaurus discovered in Northwestern Argentina in the late 1950’s. Ten to Twenty feet long with a height of Three to Six feet. Definitely a Carnivore! Coelophysis is another familiar early Theropod. Prosauropods like Plateosaurus, early cousins of the Sauropod Giants to follow, arrived in various sizes during the Triassic Period.
The Jurassic Period (199 -145 Million Years Ago)
The World itself began to change. During the Triassic there was one Super Continent – Pangea, that allow the Dinosaurs to roam freely across the Earth. In the Early Jurassic, Pangea begin to break apart into Northern and Southern Landmasses known as Laurasia & Gondwana. As a result, unique groups of Dinosaurs would inhabit their own continents. The boundary between the Triassic & Jurassic Periods approximately 200 Million Years Ago marks another extinction which eliminated many groups that were competing with Dinosaurs. The Ornithischians that were rare in the Triassic flourished in the Jurassic. The Sauropods – Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus and many others – developed and became the top herbivores for the next 100 Million Years!
Carnivores became larger Dilophosaurus – North America & Asia, Cryolophosaurus – Antarctica, Megalosaurus – Europe and in the Late Jurassic Ceratosaurus – North America, Europe & Africa, Allosaurus – North America & Europe, Yangchuanosaurus a cousin of Allosaurus in Asia. Allosaurus was the King of the Carnivores of its time! It was about another 50 Million Years before Tyrannosaurus Rex took the Crown by then the Allosaurs were gone. Archaeopteryx – Europe, the Stegosauria – Asia, Africa, Europe / Stegosaurus the member we know most North America & Europe, Ankylosauria – Gargoyleosaurus North America (the rest of the Ankylosaur family waited until the Cretaceous Period), Compsognathus – Europe, Hadrosaurs begin diversification at the end of the Jurassic. Many, many other Dinosaurs were thriving at this time.
Note: Compsognathus is portrayed as a cute, but dangerous, hopping little dinosaur in the Jurassic Movies. Actually, they could reach 5 feet long and 2 feet high at the hip. Imagine a Pack of Full Grown Compsognathus!
Cretaceous Period (145 – 65 Million Years Ago)
In the Cretaceous Period Dinosaurs were more Diverse, Abundant and Dominate than any other Time in History. Their fossils are found from the Polar Highlands of Alaska to the Ice Shelves of Antarctica. Early mammals that originated in the late Triassic were continuing to evolve slowly. Reptiles and the descendants of the dinosaurs, birds were evolving too! But Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth! The continents were beginning to resemble our modern world. The introduction of Flowers & Grasses began and spread, providing new sources of nutrition to hungry herbivores.
Dinosaurs like Spinosaurus – Africa, Baryonyx – Europe, Irritator – South America, Microraptor – Asia with many other feathered Dinosaurs, Deinonychus & Utahraptor – North America, Sauropods Amargasaurus & the Giant Argentinosaurus – South America roamed during the Early to Middle Cretaceous. Hadrosaurs & Ankylosaurs continued to diversify feeding the hungry carnivores.
Finally, in the Late Cretaceous the Tyrannosaurus Rex begins his rule in North America and cousin Tarbosaurus in Asia. A smaller Carnotaurus terrorizes South America. Small Dromaeosaurs chase prey in North America while Velociraptors hunt in Asia. Triceratops fend off Tyrannosaurus Rex while Protoceratops was often attacked by Velociraptors. The Ceratopsians were having a beauty contest in North America for the most interesting Horns & Head Frills! Pachycephalosaurus added perhaps the longest name to describe its head gear.
Jurassic Park & World Movies bring all the Dinosaurs & Pterosaurs together at the same time. However, many of our Favorite Prehistoric Animals were separated by Millions of Years in Time and Oceans. While there were many large reptiles that adapted to the Seas, Dinosaurs preferred Land. At the Park, the Prehistoric Pals & I manage some Time & Space Travel, as well, to be together.
Reference for post: “Dinosaurs” by Steve Brusatte
Stay Tuned for More Dinosaur Fun!
DINOSAUR: A Photicular Book
Created by Dan Kainen Written by Kathy Wollard
This is a Wonderful Book that Entertains & Educates. Eight Dinosaurs are seen in living motion due to the Photicular process. Each has a story to tell! Discover Earth with one Ocean – Panthalassa – and the Super Continent Pangaea when North & South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica were one! And Much, Much More! A Great Gift for the young paleontologist and adults will enjoy it too. Available at Costco & Amazon.
My First Book “Is a Metal Dinosaur the Right Pet for You?” is Available as an eBook on Kindle through Amazon.com
Only $3.99!
Included are two photos of Prehistoric Pals converted to black & white line drawings for You to express Your Color Imagination! Search online for print options on Your device. Print Screen, Cropping & Printing are available on many smart phones. Your smart phone may even allow You to email Your Print Screen to Yourself allowing even more options before printing. Kindle has an app for smart phones!
I would love to see Your Color Visions for Dominic & Raphael! Use crayons, pencils, pens, or watercolors! Attach feathers, glitter whatever brings them to life for You. Send a picture of Your Colorized Imaginations to: paul@paulsprehistoricpark.com It could be in a future post!
I will keep You posted with information on my Next eBook “The Shy Triceratops”. I hope to have Paperback versions available later this year.
Consider Membership with the Museum. In addition to Supporting Their Valuable Work there are Benefits to You. Special Preview Events for Members Only as well as Virtual Access Exclusive for Members. For more information and access to general public eLearning check out the links below.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County www.nhm.org under Research & Collections / Digitized Collections will allow you to browse their Collections. Check out the latest Activities on their site.
The American Natural History Museum www.amnh.org You will find eLearning for Families, Students & Educators. Explore the Museum Virtually. Check Out SciCafe: Video Talks and Meet the Icons: Stories behind the Exhibits! There are Video Series covering Behind the Scenes at the Museum with Space & Dinosaur Explainers.
Chicago’s Field Museum www.fieldmuseum.org You can talk to “Maximo the Titanosaur” online, Yes Really! Visit Sue the largest T-Rex discovered! Check Out “Brain Scoop” with host Emily Graslie and the Learning Resources – many are also in Spanish.
Check Out Your Libraries eBooks. My local Library has over 900 eBooks on Dinosaurs! Many Libraries are offering “Curbside Pick-up. If you prefer the hardcopy, “Curbside Pick-up may be the option for you.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Stay Safe & Well.
Remember Social Distancing & Wear a Mask to Protect Yourself & Loved Ones.
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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