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Mesozoic Era

Mesozoic Era. Age of Reptiles. After Permian Extinction Millions of years pass before diversity of living things begins to rise again. Ammonites evolved Related to squid Many types evolved Became extinct after f ew million years

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Mesozoic Era

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  1. Mesozoic Era Age of Reptiles

  2. After Permian Extinction • Millions of years pass before diversity of living things begins to rise again. • Ammonites evolved • Related to squid • Many types evolved • Became extinct after • few million years • Index Fossil –they were used to date sedimentary rock layers from different periods of the Mesozoic

  3. Triassic Period • Pangaea- Large landmass • Many Reptiles evolved • 1stmammals appeared

  4. Triassic Earth • Pangaea –supercontinent • Hot summers, cold winters • Began to separate toward end of Triassic • Panthalassa- “all sea”

  5. Triassic Life • Dinosaurs • Other reptiles • Mammals-warm blooded animals that nourish their young with milk. • Small, rodent-like • Plants- gymnosperms-group of plants with seeds that lack a protective outer coat. • Cycads & Ginkgoes

  6. Jurassic Period • Pangaea continued to split apart • Dinosaurs evolved and became widespread

  7. Jurassic Earth • Mountain building occurs as plates move • Jurassic Sea forms • Jurassic Sea helps moderate climates • Climates were mild (WARM) at all latitudes. • Warmer climates helped contribute to development of new life forms

  8. Jurassic Life • Fish w/ modern characteristics evolved (jaws, scales, skeletons, & fins) • Reptiles adapted to oceans • Dinosaurs thrived and evolved • Meat-eating dinosaurs evolved

  9. Jurassic Birds • Pterosaurs evolved • Had wings formed from membranes (some with claws) • Reptile-like teeth • Feathers • Glide not “fly”

  10. Cretaceous Period • Diversity of life • Dinosaurs • Birds • Flowering plants • Small mammals

  11. Cretaceous Earth • Pangaea continued to split • Shallow seas and great swamps formed • Formed the coal deposits of the US & Canada

  12. Cretaceous Life • Large, slow moving plant eaters (move on 4 legs) • Smaller, faster meat eaters (move on 2 legs) • Snakes evolved • Small mammals flourished

  13. Plants • Flowering plants called angiosperms • Angiosperms- plants that produce flowers and seeds with an outer covering • Trees: willow, birch, sassafras

  14. Cretaceous Extinction • Most scientists think a large meteorite collided w/ Earth causing mass extinction • Dust blocked sun for years causing plants to die (no photosynthesis w/o sun) • Caused plant eating dinos to die which caused meat eating dinos to die • Some small birds, mammals, and reptiles survived

  15. Cretaceous Extinction (cont.) • Evidence of large meteorite impact on Yucatan Peninsula • thin layer of sediment of Iridium (rare on earth, but in meteorites) • Other scientists believe volcanic eruption in India let to climate change • Several factors probably contributed to the mass extinction

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