Mesozoic Era
to rotate and different plates
This era is also known as
"The Age of the Dinosaurs".
This period also marks the
252-66 million years ago. evolution of dinosaurs.
This era includes the
Triassic, Jurassic, and
Cretaceous Periods.
Is the second-to-last
era of Earth's
geological history.
The ancestors of major plant
and animal groups that exist
today first appeared during
the Mesozoic Era.
At this period, Pangea began
were moving in different
directions.
Triassic Period
During this era, the most JurassicPeriod
dominant animals were reptiles.
The first dinosaurs like marine Dinosaurs and marine reptiles
reptiles, lizards, and tortoises began to flourish and many
appeared. new species appeared. The
climate was tropical and much
more humid than the Triassic.
Flying
reptiles
The climate was
warm and plants and the
like conifers and first birds
ferns flourished. appeared.
 The further separation of the The shallow oceans
continents gave opportunity for the contained abundant life from
diversification of new dinosaurs. tiny plankton to huge, whale-
sized marine reptiles.
Plant eating dinosaurs like the
Argentinosaurus spanning up to
40 meters roamed the earth.
Conifers continued to be the D i n odsuarui nr g
s also flourished
this period.
most diverse large trees.
Land mammals were also
present during this period. The
Cretaceous placentals were
destined to take over terrestrial
environments as soon as the
dinosaurs vanished.
Ocean levels were much higher
during this period, most of the
landmasses we are familiar with
were underwater.
Due to the appearance of
flowering plants, many modern
groups of insects appeared and
began to diversify, including ants,
termites, bees, butterflies, aphids,
and grasshoppers.
A large meteorite
crashed into the Gulf of
Mexico 66 million years
ago, causing a mass
extinction that killed up
to 80% of the world's
animal and plant species,
the last of the dinosaurs
being the most
noticeable victims.
Did you know?
Three of the five largest mass
extinctions in Earth history are
associated with the Mesozoic
A mass extinction occurred at 252 mya
the boundary between Paleozoic
and Triassic.
Second occurred within the 201 mya
Mesozoic at the end of the
Triassic Period.
Third occurred at the boundary
between the Mesozoic and 66 mya
subsequent Cenozoic,
resulting in the demise of the
dinosaurs.
Sources
https://www.livescience.com/29231-cretaceous-period.html

https://www.britannica.com/science/Mesozoic-Era

https://www.usgs.gov/youth-and-education-in-science/mesozoic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesozoic