1. History of Life Project: The Jurassic Era

2. Jurassic Period: During the Mesozoic Era
million years ago (according to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History)
Average seems to be from mya
~54 million years long
Source:
photo:

3. Defining Characteristics of the Jurassic Period
“Age of the Dinosaurs”
Dinosaurs begin to diversify
Stegosaurs, theropods, huge sauropods
Birds originated during this time
Pangea continues to break apart
Warm, tropical climate
Source: “The Jurassic.” Smithsonian: National Museum of Natural History. Department of Paleobiology, n.d. Web. 28 Jan
picture:
Archaeopteryx

4. Life: Dinosaurs
Sauropods: Large dinosaurs with long necks and tails and small heads. (Ex. Brachiosaurus)
Large plant-eating dinosaurs (Ex. Stegosaurus)
Carnosaurs- Large predatory theropods (Ex. Allosaurus)
Coelurosaurs- smaller theropods that more closely resemble birds
Some popular dinosaurs such as T-rex, velociraptor, and triceratops did not live during this time period.
“Jurassic Period: Life.” Berkley. n.d. Web. 29 Jan

5. More Dinosaurs - Ornithischia
Diverse dinosaur group
Had bird-like hip bones
Special extra bone (predentary) in lower jaw
Mostly herbivorous
Thyreophora - armored dinosaurs
Ornithopods - bipedal herbivores
“Dinosauria.” Paleos: Life Through Deep Time. (March 2001). Web. 31 Jan Retrieved from:

6. Marine Life
Marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs (fish-like reptiles), plesiosaurs, giant crocodiles
Fish, including early teleost fishes
Sharks and rays
Cephalopods
Ammonites- predatory squid-like cephalopods that lived in coiled shells
Belemnites
Coral reefs, sponges, snails, and molluscs
“Ammonites.” National Geographic Web. 29 Jan 2016
“Jurassic Period: Life.” Berkley. n.d. Web. 29 Jan 2016.

7. Life Small early mammals Possible earliest bird evolved- archaeopteryx
Insects included beetles, leafhoppers, moths, bees, and wasps
Dinoflagellates, foraminiferans, coccolithophorids
Davis, Brenna. “Prehistoric Insects in the Jurassic Period.” Web. 29 Jan 2016.

8. Plant Life
Most plants in the Jurassic were ferns, horsetails, ginkgoes, bennettitales, and true cycads.
These plants were vascularized, and many reproduced via spores.
During the period gymnosperms (such as cone bearing trees) evolved.
Their reproduction methods allowed them to spread throughout the world effectively, creating conifer forests.
Moss like bryophytes that had been more abundant in the Triassic were now mostly restricted to swampy areas.
Images from:
Live Science Staff. (April 2016). Jurassic Period Facts. Live Science. Retrieved from: (last viewed: January 31, 2016)
Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology. n.d. The Jurassic: Jurassic Life. Geologic Time. Retrieved from: (last viewed January 31, 2016)

9. Adaptations Archaeopteryx Vulcanodon Dilophosaurus Pictures from:

10. Adaptations Stegosaurus Temnodontosaurus Pliosaurus Pictures from

11. Extinctions Triassic-Jurassic extinction
Due to lava flood or asteroid
During beginning of Jurassic period
20% of ocean families, many mammal-like organisms, large amphibians, non-dinosaur archosaurs died out
Late Pliensbachian/Early Toarcian event: Ammonite extinctions
Anoxic ocean conditions
Prosauropod extinction (during the middle of the period)
Late Tithonian event: most remaining ammonites died out
Aspidoceratidae
Ataciocertidae
Dorosplanitidae
Bullet one:
“Mass Extinctions: What Causes Animal Die-Offs?” National Geographic . N.p., n.d. Web Jan
Bullet two:
“Introduction to Prosauropods.” University of California Museum of Paleontology . Berkley , n.d. Web. 28 Jan
Bullet three:
Dera, G., Neige, P., Dommergues, J., Fara, E., Laffont, R., & Pellenard, P. (2010). High-resolution dynamics of early jurassic marine extinctions: The case of pliensbachian-toarcian ammonites (cephalopoda). Journal of the Geological Society, 167, Retrieved from
Bullet four:
Hallam, A . “The Pliensbachian and Tithonian Extinction Events.” Nature (1986): 765–768. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Birmingham. Web. 28 Jan

12. Prestosuchus - An example of a non-dinosaur archosaur
Ammonite
1: archosaur -
2: ammonite -
3: prosauropod -
Prosauropod

13. Climate and Geography
Breakup of Pangaea accelerates, creating more distinct landmasses and opening up gaps that helped form large bodies of water including the Atlantic.
The breakup also caused the formation of many epicontinental seaways.
Sea levels were pushed up by the presence of new underwater mountains.
Image from:
Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology. n.d. The Jurassic: Jurassic Climate and Tectonic Activity. Geologic Time. Retrieved from: (last viewed January 31, 2016)
Enchanted Learning. n.d. The Jurassic Period. Zoom Dinosaurs. Retrieved from: (last viewed January 31, 2016)
National Geographic. n.d. Jurassic Period. National Geographic. Retrieved from: (last viewed January 31, 2016)

14. Climate and Geography
Described as a greenhouse climate, very warm and moist.
Lush greenery covered most of the planet.
There was no polar ice in the Jurassic.
Due to the large amount of water, there was very little seasonality.
Image from:
Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology. n.d. The Jurassic: Jurassic Climate and Tectonic Activity. Geologic Time. Retrieved from: (last viewed January 31, 2016)
Enchanted Learning. n.d. The Jurassic Period. Zoom Dinosaurs. Retrieved from: (last viewed January 31, 2016)
National Geographic. n.d. Jurassic Period. National Geographic. Retrieved from: (last viewed January 31, 2016)