Dinosaurs: A Vast Era
Dinosaurs dominated the Earth for over 160 million years, far longer than humans have existed. Their reign, spanning the Mesozoic Era, outlasts the history of mankind by a staggering margin, showcasing their adaptability and diversity.
Triassic Period Beginnings
The earliest dinosaurs emerged in the Triassic Period, approximately 230 million years ago. Notable for their small size, these ancestors were overshadowed by large archosaurs until the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction.
Jurassic Period Giants
The Jurassic Period saw the rise of colossal dinosaurs. Sauropods like Brachiosaurus strode the Earth, their immense necks transforming forest canopies into grazing grounds, an evolutionary novelty among land animals.
Cretaceous Diversification
The Cretaceous Period brought about a diversification unseen before, with the first flowering plants. Predatory dinosaurs like Velociraptor bore feathers, a trait linking them to modern birds, their closest living relatives.
Catastrophic Extinction Event
66 million years ago, an asteroid impact caused the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. The resulting climate change led to the demise of three-quarters of Earth's species, including most dinosaurs, sparing only some small bird-like dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs' Living Descendants
Birds are the direct descendants of theropod dinosaurs. The similarities in their skeletons, nesting behaviors, and even vocalizations offer a fascinating glimpse into the enduring legacy of dinosaurian traits.
Fossilization and Discovery
Dinosaur fossils are rare windows into the past. The fossilization process requires perfect conditions, yet paleontologists have unearthed fossils on every continent, revealing species diversity that continues to astonish scientists.
How long did dinosaurs dominate Earth?
Less than 100 million years
Over 160 million years
Exactly 230 million years
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