The Triassic Period Age of Reptiles

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The Triassic Period Age of Reptiles

• 240 mya 205 mya

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The Earth

• Early Triassic(251 mya)-Single Continent made up
  of Pangaea, Laurasia, and Gondwana and was
  centered over the Equator
• Mid to Late Triassic(245 to 203 mya)-continent
  began to drift apart due to sea floor spreading
  and movement of plates
• Mountain Formations

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Earths Climate

• Hot
• Dry
• No evidence of Glaciation
• Polar regions were moderate and moist
• Seasonal Weather

• High Elevation
• Monsoon occurrences in coastal regions

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Lifeforms

• Transition period from old life forms dying out
  to new appearing
• Vegetation dominated by Lycopodiophyta
  (Evergreens)

• Cold-blooded reptiles dominated over warm-blooded
  mammal-like reptiles
• Invertebrates such as Bivalves, Ammonoids, and
  Brachiopods dominated
• New corals evolved

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Lifeforms Contd

• Procolophonids (Lizards) were common
• In Late Triassic Epoch dinosaurs, pterosaurs and
  proto-crocs dominated
• Archosaurs were common

• 1st proto-dinosaur called the Lagosuchidae
  evolved
• Lakes filled with Lungfish
• Seas had marine reptiles such as
  Ichthyosaurs(Dolphin-like), Nothosaurs(Long-neck
  Seal-like), and Sea Urchins

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Mass Extinction

• Ended Triassic Period
• Uncertain of what caused it and how many actual
  extinctions there were
• Possible Large Volcanic Eruptions about 208-213
  mya
• Over ½ of all living organisms on earth wiped out
• Severe in Oceans-All marine life extinct except
  for Ichthyosaurs
• Early primitive dinosaurs went extinct, but more
  adaptive ones survived

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The Manicouagan Theory

• Global Cooling or a Bolide impact
• Impact Crater surrounding Manicouagan
• Research has shown that the impact melt within
  the equator 214 mya, while the end of Triassic
  has been researched to have ended 202 million
  years ago
• Manicouagan impact preceded the end of the
  Triassic, therefore cant be the cause of the
  extinction