Triassic

The Triassic period lasted from 245 million years ago until 208 mya, (lasting only 37 million years, a relatively short time for a geological period). The Triassic was very important in evolutionary terms, as it was when the dinosaurs evolved. Dinosaurs first appeared around 230 mya, and during their 165 million year reign, they evolved into many different forms. From the small Leyannalaaura of Cretaceous Antarctica, to the massive Diplodocus that roamed on the planes of Jurassic Pangaea. And of course, Tyrannosaurus Rex, who lived in Cretaceous North America. Anyway, back to the Triassic. The Earth’s continents had recently collided to form one massive supercontinent called Pangaea, at the centre of which was an enormous desert. The Triassic was very hot and humid. There were no polar ice caps, and only two seasons per year, wet and dry. Particularly in the more inland regions, the dry season could be very harsh, as rain clouds would not have been able to penetrate very far into the supercontinent’s interior. It is quite possible that right in the centre of the desert, it may have never rained!

Click here to see our Triassic fossils.

←Mesozoic era

 Jurassic period→

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