Page 13 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

200–145 million years ago 145–66 million years ago Changing planet

Jurassic world
The giant continent of Pangea split during the Jurassic, torn
apart by volcanic forces from deep inside Earth, and formed Velociraptor
two large new continents. Moist sea air could now carry rain
to more of the land, allowing forests to replace desert.
Dinosaurs became the dominant land animals, and some
evolved into giants, such as Barapasaurus, a long-necked
plant-eater. The first feathered and flying dinosaurs evolved,
including Archaeopteryx, a birdlike predator.

Sequoia
Alxasaurus Archaeanthus

Archaeopteryx

Barapasaurus

Mosasaurus

Cretaceous world
During the Cretaceous, the continents drifted toward their
current configuration, moving about as fast as your toenails
grow. Flowering plants, which had appeared in the Jurassic,
evolved into trees and replaced older vegetation. There were
now more kinds of dinosaurs than ever, including
Velociraptor, a small carnivore with lethal, hooklike claws on
Cycad Fern its hind feet, and Alxasaurus, a feathered herbivore. 11

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