The Mesozoic Era
The Mesozoic Era is the era after the Paleozoic Era. It began 252 million years ago and lasted till 66 million years ago. The Mesozoic Era is sometimes called “Middle Life Era” and “The Age of Reptiles”. There were three periods within the Mesozoic Era, they are the Triassic 248 -208 million years ago,Jurassic 208-146 million years ago and the Cretaceous period 146-65 million years ago.
Climate
The Mesozoic Era’s climate was much warmer than today (so warm no polar ice caps existed). During the Triassic period Pangea experienced major temperature swings and was covered in large swaths of desert. Following the Triassic came the Jurassic period, in the Jurassic there was a rise in sea levels which led to more coastlines and more coastlines led to stable temperatures and a wetter climate. In the Cretaceous period the planet got 18 degrees warmer and large oceans were too warm to support sea life.
The Continents
During the Mesozoic Era Pangea holds together for most of the Triassic period. During the Jurassic period Pangea breaks apart as North America separates from Africa and South America. In the Cretaceous the continents started to move to the present day positions as South America separates from from Africa.
Major Changes to Landforms
During the Mesozoic Era in the Jurassic Period Pangea broke into 2 super continents Laurasia and Gondwana. By the end of the Cretaceous period the Himalayan, Rocky Mountains and Andes began forming.
Major Changes to Living Things
During the Mesozoic Era in the Triassic period dinosaurs appeared in the fossil record, the first mammals evolved from reptiles and Conifers and Ginkgo trees dominate forests. During the Jurassic big dinosaurs such as Stegosauruses dominate and the first birds appeared. Finally in the Cretaceous period the first flowering plants and snakes appear.
End of Time Period
The Mesozoic Era came to an end 66 million years ago when another mass extinction hit Earth. It wiped out 70 percent of animal species on Earth. This mass extinction is sometimes called “The Great Extinction”.
The Mesozoic Era is the era after the Paleozoic Era. It began 252 million years ago and lasted till 66 million years ago. The Mesozoic Era is sometimes called “Middle Life Era” and “The Age of Reptiles”. There were three periods within the Mesozoic Era, they are the Triassic 248 -208 million years ago,Jurassic 208-146 million years ago and the Cretaceous period 146-65 million years ago.
Climate
The Mesozoic Era’s climate was much warmer than today (so warm no polar ice caps existed). During the Triassic period Pangea experienced major temperature swings and was covered in large swaths of desert. Following the Triassic came the Jurassic period, in the Jurassic there was a rise in sea levels which led to more coastlines and more coastlines led to stable temperatures and a wetter climate. In the Cretaceous period the planet got 18 degrees warmer and large oceans were too warm to support sea life.
The Continents
During the Mesozoic Era Pangea holds together for most of the Triassic period. During the Jurassic period Pangea breaks apart as North America separates from Africa and South America. In the Cretaceous the continents started to move to the present day positions as South America separates from from Africa.
Major Changes to Landforms
During the Mesozoic Era in the Jurassic Period Pangea broke into 2 super continents Laurasia and Gondwana. By the end of the Cretaceous period the Himalayan, Rocky Mountains and Andes began forming.
Major Changes to Living Things
During the Mesozoic Era in the Triassic period dinosaurs appeared in the fossil record, the first mammals evolved from reptiles and Conifers and Ginkgo trees dominate forests. During the Jurassic big dinosaurs such as Stegosauruses dominate and the first birds appeared. Finally in the Cretaceous period the first flowering plants and snakes appear.
End of Time Period
The Mesozoic Era came to an end 66 million years ago when another mass extinction hit Earth. It wiped out 70 percent of animal species on Earth. This mass extinction is sometimes called “The Great Extinction”.