Mesozoic
When reptiles ruled
Mesozoic refers to the geological era spanning roughly 252 to 66 million years ago, between the Paleozoic and Cenozoic eras.
Often called the Age of Reptiles, it encompasses the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods—when dinosaurs dominated land ecosystems.
The era ended with a mass extinction event that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs: Mesozoic fossils reveal an alien world.
Large-scale species elimination
- asteroid impactSpace rock collision event
- volcanismSubterranean magma expulsion process
- Deccan TrapsIndian flood basalt province
First Mesozoic period
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- TethysGreek sea titaness
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
- riftingGeological spreading apart
continental drift · limestone · chalk · shale
Preserved ancient organism
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- petrificationBecoming rock-like
Palmlike ancient seed plant
- coniferCone-bearing tree
- ginkgoAncient Chinese deciduous tree
- fernSpore-spreading vascular plant
- gymnospermExposed-seed plant
Extinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- belemniteExtinct squid-like mollusk
- ichthyosaurMesozoic ocean-dwelling reptile
- plesiosaurExtinct marine reptile
- mosasaurExtinct marine reptile
pterosaur · archosaur · crocodilian · nautilus · bivalve · gastropod
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- BrachiosaurusTall sauropod genus
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
- IguanodonOrnithopod genus with distinctive thumb spikes
- MegalosaurusPioneering dinosaur genus description
mass extinction
Large-scale species elimination
- asteroid impactSpace rock collision event
- volcanismSubterranean magma expulsion process
- Deccan TrapsIndian flood basalt province
Triassic
First Mesozoic period
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
Pangaea
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- TethysGreek sea titaness
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
rifting · continental drift · limestone · chalk · shale
fossil
Preserved ancient organism
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
petrification · amber · coprolite · trackway · formation
cycad
Palmlike ancient seed plant
ammonite
Extinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- belemniteExtinct squid-like mollusk
- ichthyosaurMesozoic ocean-dwelling reptile
- plesiosaurExtinct marine reptile
mosasaur · pterosaur · archosaur · crocodilian · nautilus · bivalve · gastropod
Velociraptor
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- BrachiosaurusTall sauropod genus
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
- IguanodonOrnithopod genus with distinctive thumb spikes
greenhouse
Climate-controlled plant enclosure
- Mesozoicdinosaurs, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, Spinosaurus, pterosaurs
- dinosaursdinosaurs, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, raptors, Spinosaurus
- erasera, epoch, age, bronze age, period
- time periodsday, year, month, week, hour
- Earth historyice age, geological time, extinction, eons, fossil
- geologic historyCambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous
MesozoicCenozoic
Present geological era
Paleozoic · Precambrian · Quaternary · Tertiary · Holocene