Mesozoic Era
Mesozoic Era: 245-66 million years ago
Mesozoic Summary: The era is most known for the dinosaurs. The claim to fame nickname is the "Age of the Dinosaurs" or "Age of the Reptiles". The dinosaurs were the dominant animals for much of the era. Since most of the life in the oceans became extinct at the end of the Paleozoic Era, many new plants and species formed. Small dinosaurs began to appear and then they got bigger and giant herbivores ruled the earth. Birds evolved from dinosaurs. The climate changed to more tropical weather and new plants emerged as well. Flowering plants appeared. Also, on land the first mammals came to life. This period of time ended with the Mesozoic mass extinction which killed half of all plant and animal groups. The extinction was thought to be caused by an asteroid which struck earth.
GEOLOGIC EVENTS
Mesozoic Summary: The era is most known for the dinosaurs. The claim to fame nickname is the "Age of the Dinosaurs" or "Age of the Reptiles". The dinosaurs were the dominant animals for much of the era. Since most of the life in the oceans became extinct at the end of the Paleozoic Era, many new plants and species formed. Small dinosaurs began to appear and then they got bigger and giant herbivores ruled the earth. Birds evolved from dinosaurs. The climate changed to more tropical weather and new plants emerged as well. Flowering plants appeared. Also, on land the first mammals came to life. This period of time ended with the Mesozoic mass extinction which killed half of all plant and animal groups. The extinction was thought to be caused by an asteroid which struck earth.
GEOLOGIC EVENTS
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/6668964.gif)
Pangaea Breaks Apart
200 MYA
Pangaea breaks apart as North America separates from Africa and South America.
200 MYA
Pangaea breaks apart as North America separates from Africa and South America.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/8362443.jpg?236)
South America breaks away from Africa
70 MYA
Continents move toward their present day positions as South America splits from Africa.
70 MYA
Continents move toward their present day positions as South America splits from Africa.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/717579783.jpg)
Volcanic Activity
66 MYA
Widespread volcanic activity occurs. Not all scientists believe that an asteroid impact caused the extinction at the end of this time period. Some believe that the extinction happened over an extended period of time due to massive volcano activity.
66 MYA
Widespread volcanic activity occurs. Not all scientists believe that an asteroid impact caused the extinction at the end of this time period. Some believe that the extinction happened over an extended period of time due to massive volcano activity.
DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE EVENTS
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/9530442.jpg)
Flowering Plants
240 MYA
The first flowering plants evolved 240 million years ago.
240 MYA
The first flowering plants evolved 240 million years ago.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/250170476.jpg)
Dinosaurs
225 MYA
Dinosaurs became the dominant animals on land.
225 MYA
Dinosaurs became the dominant animals on land.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/343967039.jpg?174)
Mammals
225 MYA
Mammals first appeared (warm-blooded vertebrate that feed its young milk).
225 MYA
Mammals first appeared (warm-blooded vertebrate that feed its young milk).
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/8472928.gif?199)
Birds - Archaeopteryx
208 MYA
Birds evolved from dinosaurs. One of the first birds which evolved was the Archaeopteryx.
208 MYA
Birds evolved from dinosaurs. One of the first birds which evolved was the Archaeopteryx.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/813527219.jpg?200)
Snakes
144 MYA
First snakes appear. Snakes belong to the reptile class.
144 MYA
First snakes appear. Snakes belong to the reptile class.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/8/7/25870152/9312622.jpg?191)
Mesozoic Mass Extinction
66 MYA
An object from space (asteroid) struck Earth and threw huge amounts of dust and water vapor into the atmosphere. Many organisms on land and in oceans were killed immediately. Dust and heavy clouds blocked sun and plants died. No dinosaurs survived. Killed half of all plants and animal groups. Also climate was affected.
66 MYA
An object from space (asteroid) struck Earth and threw huge amounts of dust and water vapor into the atmosphere. Many organisms on land and in oceans were killed immediately. Dust and heavy clouds blocked sun and plants died. No dinosaurs survived. Killed half of all plants and animal groups. Also climate was affected.