Jurassic PeriodJurassic Period

By: Sonia KupsBy: Sonia Kups

Bio ProjectBio Project

Jurassic PeriodJurassic Period Jurassic period began 208 million years ago and ended 144 Jurassic period began 208 million years ago and ended 144

million years ago. million years ago. The whole Jurassic period lasted 064.0 million years. The whole Jurassic period lasted 064.0 million years. The Jurassic period was part of the Mesozoic Era.The Jurassic period was part of the Mesozoic Era. The Jurassic period was divided into three parts: early Jurassic- The Jurassic period was divided into three parts: early Jurassic-

Lias, middle Jurassic- Dogger and late Jurassic- Malm.Lias, middle Jurassic- Dogger and late Jurassic- Malm. The Jurassic period is the middle period of the Mesozoic era.The Jurassic period is the middle period of the Mesozoic era. The Jurassic is known as “The Age of Dinosaurs.”The Jurassic is known as “The Age of Dinosaurs.” Most animals die out in the Triassic period, the dinosaurs Most animals die out in the Triassic period, the dinosaurs

survivedsurvived The armored placodonts and great Shastosaurs were all extinct The armored placodonts and great Shastosaurs were all extinct

because of the mid-Carnian and Rhaetic extinctions from the because of the mid-Carnian and Rhaetic extinctions from the Triassic period.Triassic period.

This period was the height of the dinosaurs existence. This period was the height of the dinosaurs existence. The word “Jurassic” came from the Jura Mountains in Europe.The word “Jurassic” came from the Jura Mountains in Europe.

GeographyGeography In the beginning of the Jurassic Period most continents were In the beginning of the Jurassic Period most continents were

joined together.joined together. The Atlantic Ocean started to form and the Americas The Atlantic Ocean started to form and the Americas

separated from Africa.separated from Africa. Arizona, Colorado and Utah were all deserts.Arizona, Colorado and Utah were all deserts. Italy, Greece Turkey and Iran were attached to the North Italy, Greece Turkey and Iran were attached to the North

African part of Gondwanaland. African part of Gondwanaland. Sandstone, limestone, shale and gypsum were deposited all Sandstone, limestone, shale and gypsum were deposited all

over North America. over North America. The Sierra Nevada, Klamaths, Cascades, Coast Ranges, The Sierra Nevada, Klamaths, Cascades, Coast Ranges,

Rocky Mountains and coastal mountains of Canada and Rocky Mountains and coastal mountains of Canada and Alaska were formed.Alaska were formed.

No glaciers were present.No glaciers were present. The continents began to rotate and separate from each The continents began to rotate and separate from each

other.other.

GeographyGeography There were three continents: North America, Eurasia and There were three continents: North America, Eurasia and

GondwanalandGondwanaland New sea floor formed along the South Atlantic.New sea floor formed along the South Atlantic. The sea level rose in the Jurassic Period flooding large The sea level rose in the Jurassic Period flooding large

portions of continents. portions of continents. The Sundance Sea formed in North America.The Sundance Sea formed in North America. The land of the Jurassic period contained black organic The land of the Jurassic period contained black organic

mudstones with microcrystalline limestone.mudstones with microcrystalline limestone. Same group of dinosaurs and plants lived on all the Same group of dinosaurs and plants lived on all the

continents.continents. Yorkshire, UK was actually a shallow sea or a lagoon during Yorkshire, UK was actually a shallow sea or a lagoon during

the Jurassic period.the Jurassic period. What is now the Amazon and Congo forests were deserts in What is now the Amazon and Congo forests were deserts in

the Jurassic period.the Jurassic period.

ClimateClimate Tropical climateTropical climate About 15 degrees F warmer then current temperatureAbout 15 degrees F warmer then current temperature The climate was warmer and moister then that of the The climate was warmer and moister then that of the

Triassic period.Triassic period. As time went on the climate became more humid.As time went on the climate became more humid. Nowadays people classify the Jurassic terrestrial Nowadays people classify the Jurassic terrestrial

environments in different climate zones by looking at the environments in different climate zones by looking at the leaf changes, geographic distribution and climate leaf changes, geographic distribution and climate relationship.relationship.

As researchers find the original climate of the Jurassic they As researchers find the original climate of the Jurassic they will see which plants lived on what parts of land.will see which plants lived on what parts of land.

In the early and middle Jurassic Pangea was very arid and In the early and middle Jurassic Pangea was very arid and hot.hot.

PlantsPlants Gymnosperm plants were present.Gymnosperm plants were present. Cycads were the main dominant plant life.Cycads were the main dominant plant life. There were two different types of cycads: the palm like ones There were two different types of cycads: the palm like ones

and the short ones that looked like brushes.and the short ones that looked like brushes. Conifers, ginkoes, palms, horsetails and ferns were present.Conifers, ginkoes, palms, horsetails and ferns were present. Forests contained ferns and ginkos.Forests contained ferns and ginkos. The ground was covered with ferns and cycads.The ground was covered with ferns and cycads. On the ocean floor different types of plankton were abundant.On the ocean floor different types of plankton were abundant. There was no flowering plants.There was no flowering plants. The caytoniale plants later evolved into flowering plants.The caytoniale plants later evolved into flowering plants. The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona has preserved The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona has preserved

trees from the Jurassic and Triassic periods. trees from the Jurassic and Triassic periods. Plants were the basis of the food web.Plants were the basis of the food web.

CycadsCycads This cycad was one of the palm like ones that bigger dinosaurs, This cycad was one of the palm like ones that bigger dinosaurs,

like the brachiosaurus ate from.like the brachiosaurus ate from. There were also separate female and male cycad plants.There were also separate female and male cycad plants.

Animal BiologyAnimal Biology 1000 species of insects were present.1000 species of insects were present. Some of these insects can be found on earth todaySome of these insects can be found on earth today The reptiles were the dominant animal.The reptiles were the dominant animal. Dinosaurs ruled the land.Dinosaurs ruled the land. Crocodiles, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs ruled the seaCrocodiles, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs ruled the sea Pterosaurs ruled the skyPterosaurs ruled the sky The first bird-like reptile appeared in the Jurassic Period known The first bird-like reptile appeared in the Jurassic Period known

as Archaeopteryx.as Archaeopteryx. Primitive mammals appear, but they are very small and not Primitive mammals appear, but they are very small and not

very important.very important. Invertebrates were plentiful: sponges, corals, bryzoa, Invertebrates were plentiful: sponges, corals, bryzoa,

gastropods, bivalves, ammonoid, belemnite and cephalopodsgastropods, bivalves, ammonoid, belemnite and cephalopods Clams, snails and branchiopods were also commonClams, snails and branchiopods were also common On land millipedes, scorpions, spiders and mites were present.On land millipedes, scorpions, spiders and mites were present. Modern shark groups appeared.Modern shark groups appeared.

Animal BiologyAnimal Biology During the late Jurassic some small carnivores developed During the late Jurassic some small carnivores developed

feathers and learned how to fly.feathers and learned how to fly. The largest land animal was the sauropods.The largest land animal was the sauropods. The sauropods were plant eating.The sauropods were plant eating. The dinosaurs ruled land for 135 million years.The dinosaurs ruled land for 135 million years. Some of the herbivores during the Jurassic were prosauropods, Some of the herbivores during the Jurassic were prosauropods,

cynodont synapsids and other mostly small ornithischian cynodont synapsids and other mostly small ornithischian dinosaurs. dinosaurs.

Plant eating dinosaurs were the biggest dinosaurs around.Plant eating dinosaurs were the biggest dinosaurs around. Dinosaurs like the Stegosaurus had brains the size of a walnut Dinosaurs like the Stegosaurus had brains the size of a walnut

and yet grew up to be about 30 feet long.and yet grew up to be about 30 feet long.

SauropodsSauropods These were the largest dinosaurs in the Jurassic period.These were the largest dinosaurs in the Jurassic period. They were herbivores.They were herbivores. These dinosaurs were 46 feet long.These dinosaurs were 46 feet long.

Early JurassicEarly Jurassic Also known as Lias.Also known as Lias. The word Lias might of come from the local English spelling The word Lias might of come from the local English spelling

of the word layer.of the word layer. There were four parts in the Early Jurassic: Toarcian, There were four parts in the Early Jurassic: Toarcian,

Pliensbachian, Sinemurian and Hettangian.Pliensbachian, Sinemurian and Hettangian. Lasted from 195 million years ago to 180 million years ago.Lasted from 195 million years ago to 180 million years ago. Ammonoids diversify.Ammonoids diversify. The early Jurassic saw great disposition of limestone.The early Jurassic saw great disposition of limestone. Evolution of dinosaurs and other animals stops in this Evolution of dinosaurs and other animals stops in this

period.period.

Early Jurassic Geographic MapEarly Jurassic Geographic Map

Middle JurassicMiddle Jurassic The middle Jurassic was called Dogger.The middle Jurassic was called Dogger. There were four parts in the middle Jurassic: There were four parts in the middle Jurassic:

Callovian,Bathonina,Bajocian and Aalenian.Callovian,Bathonina,Bajocian and Aalenian. Lasted from 180-154 million years ago.Lasted from 180-154 million years ago. Marine life like ammonities and bivalves dominated the earth.Marine life like ammonities and bivalves dominated the earth. New dinosaurs evolved like cetiosaurs, brachiosaurs, New dinosaurs evolved like cetiosaurs, brachiosaurs,

megalosaurs, and hypsilophodonts.megalosaurs, and hypsilophodonts. Ichthyosaurs reduce in diversity.Ichthyosaurs reduce in diversity. Cetiosaurids flourish.Cetiosaurids flourish. Pangea starts to separate.Pangea starts to separate. The cooling process of the earth is starting to take place.The cooling process of the earth is starting to take place.

Middle Jurassic Geographic MapMiddle Jurassic Geographic Map

Late JurassicLate Jurassic Also known as Malm.Also known as Malm. The late Jurassic period had three parts: The late Jurassic period had three parts:

Tithonian,Kimmeridgian and Oxfordian.Tithonian,Kimmeridgian and Oxfordian. Lasted from 146-135 million years ago.Lasted from 146-135 million years ago. Central Atlantic Ocean was a narrow ocean that separated Central Atlantic Ocean was a narrow ocean that separated

Africa from eastern North America.Africa from eastern North America. Eastern Gondwana separates from western Gondwanaland.Eastern Gondwana separates from western Gondwanaland. Dinosaurs Sauropods, Camarasaurs, Brachiosaurs and Dinosaurs Sauropods, Camarasaurs, Brachiosaurs and

Diplodocids flourished.Diplodocids flourished. Smaller animals like reptiles, lizards, early mammals and early Smaller animals like reptiles, lizards, early mammals and early

birds also were abundant.birds also were abundant. As a result of Pangea breaking up the climate changedAs a result of Pangea breaking up the climate changed The climate was less dry and snow and ice covered polar The climate was less dry and snow and ice covered polar

regions.regions.

Late Jurassic Geographic MapLate Jurassic Geographic Map

FossilsFossils Jurassic deposits can be found in the Rocky Mountains, Jurassic deposits can be found in the Rocky Mountains,

England, western Europe and other parts of the world. England, western Europe and other parts of the world. The Blue Nile Gorge in Ethiopia has some of the first dinosaur The Blue Nile Gorge in Ethiopia has some of the first dinosaur

fossil.fossil. In 1905 the Saurian Expedition in the West Humboldt Range in In 1905 the Saurian Expedition in the West Humboldt Range in

Nevada found Jurassic fossils of ichthyosaurs.Nevada found Jurassic fossils of ichthyosaurs. The Solnhofen Limestone in southern German has many The Solnhofen Limestone in southern German has many

detailed fossils from Jurassic deposits.detailed fossils from Jurassic deposits. Many Solnhofen Limestone fossils are of fragile or soft bodied Many Solnhofen Limestone fossils are of fragile or soft bodied

organisms which usually leave broken fossils but not these.organisms which usually leave broken fossils but not these. The Tendaguru Formation is filled with deposits from the The Tendaguru Formation is filled with deposits from the

Jurassic period. Jurassic period. About 225,000 kg of bones were uncovered at the Tendaguru About 225,000 kg of bones were uncovered at the Tendaguru

Formation over 2 and a half years.Formation over 2 and a half years. Lime stone and deposits are important in studying fossils Lime stone and deposits are important in studying fossils

because these stones contain the remains of ancient because these stones contain the remains of ancient dinosaurs.dinosaurs.

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts The name Lias was taken by a geologist from an english The name Lias was taken by a geologist from an english

quarryman’s pronunciation of the word "layers". quarryman’s pronunciation of the word "layers". The movie Jurassic Park by Steven Spielberg was actually The movie Jurassic Park by Steven Spielberg was actually

somewhat inaccurate. somewhat inaccurate. The dinosaurs, like Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex, did not The dinosaurs, like Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex, did not

evolve until the Jurassic period was over.evolve until the Jurassic period was over. Most of the dinosaurs featured in the movie were from the Most of the dinosaurs featured in the movie were from the

Cretaceous period.Cretaceous period.

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Picture CitationPicture Citation http://www.zoomwhales.com/subjects/dinosaurs/plantshttp://www.zoomwhales.com/subjects/dinosaurs/plants// http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1566641.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1566641.stm http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/Jur.jpghttp://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/Jur.jpg http://www.palaeos.com/Mesozoic/Jurassic/MidJura.htmlhttp://www.palaeos.com/Mesozoic/Jurassic/MidJura.html