Mesozoic era

Mesozoic Era

The Mesozoic Era (/ˌmɛz.əˈzoʊ.ɪk, ˌmiː-, -zoʊ-/; from the Greek mesos meaning "middle" and zoikos meaning "life") is a geological era that spanned from about 252 to 66 million years ago. It is often referred to as the Age of Reptiles, as dinosaurs and other large reptiles dominated the land, sea, and air.

Etymology

The term "Mesozoic" was proposed in 1840 by the British geologist John Phillips. It is derived from the Greek words mesos ("middle") and zoe ("life"). The name reflects the position of the era between the ancient (Paleozoic) and the new (Cenozoic).

Divisions

The Mesozoic Era is divided into three periods: the Triassic (252 to 201 million years ago), the Jurassic (201 to 145 million years ago), and the Cretaceous (145 to 66 million years ago). Each of these periods is further divided into epochs and ages.

Flora and Fauna

The Mesozoic Era saw the rise and fall of many types of plants and animals. The era began with the recovery from the Permian–Triassic extinction event, the most severe known extinction event, which ended the preceding Paleozoic Era. The Mesozoic was a time of significant evolutionary experimentation and development. The first mammals and birds appeared, as did many new types of dinosaurs, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

End of the Mesozoic

The Mesozoic Era ended with the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, a mass extinction caused by the impact of a large asteroid or comet near the present-day town of Chicxulub in Mexico. This event led to the extinction of most dinosaur species and paved the way for the Cenozoic Era, which is characterized by the dominance of mammals.