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Permian-Triassic Extinction
96% of all marine species and 70% terrestrial vertabrate species became extinct during this time. Also, it is the only mass extinction of insects known. Insects such as palaeodictyopteroids (see picture) and caloneurodeans went extinct during the Permian-Triassic Extinction. It is now known as the "Great Dying". In total, about 90% of all species became extinct during the Permian-Triassic Extinction. -
Induan Epoch
The Induan epoch followed directly after the Permian-Triassic Extinction. The Induan epoch there were still many animals around despite the extinction. For example, the Proterosuchus (shown in picture) was the largest land reptile during the early Triassic period. It looks similar to today's Komodo dragons. -
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Triassic Period
During the Triassic period, many changes occurred. Bordering both ends of the period there were mass extinctions that wiped out tons of flora and fauna. However, the Triassic period paved the way for the dinosaur-dominant Jurassic period that followed it. Many fossils of the Triassic period are found in Africa. During the Triassic period, the continents were formed into a supercontinent called Pangaea. However, this supercontinent started to split up by the end of the period. -
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Coal Gap
In the early Triassic period, there was no coal present. Scientists call this the "Coal Gap" and it was thought to have been wiped out during the Permian-Triassic Extinction. However, part way through the Anisian epoch, coal made a comeback. -
Olenekian Epoch
The Olenekian epoch lasted for about 4 million years. A major type of animal that evolved during this time period were the Archosaurs; a group containing crocidiles, dinosaurs, and birds (see picture). The Archosaurs are mainly land animals, but some spend lots of time in water. The Anisian epoch follows directly after the Olenekian. -
Anisian Epoch
The Anisian epoch started around 237 million years ago and it followed the Olenekian epoch. There were multiple reptiles and large mammals during this time period. In the early Anisian epoch, species such as the Chiosella timorensis made their first appearance. Also, the Cherninia made an appearance (see image). -
Earliest Dinosaur
Archaeologists found the earliest fossil of a potential dinosaur that was from the Anisian epoch. This fossil was possibly from the Herrerasauridae dinosaur which is the earliest known dinosaur. -
Trees!
During the late Olenekian epoch, woody trees began to reappear. After they went nearly extinct during the Permian-Triassic Extinction like coal, they came back and stayed. -
Scleractinia
Scleractinia are stony corals that were introduced 240 million years ago during the Triassic period. They emerged and replaced other corals that were present during the preceeding Permian period. -
Ladinian Epoch
The Ladinian epoch lasted for around 9 million years. Similar to other epochs, new animals made their first appearences during this time period. The first appearance of the ammonite species Daxatina canadensis was during this time (see image). -
Carnian Epoch
The Carnian epoch lasted from around 228 million years ago until 216 million years ago. During this time, the continents were merged into one supercontinent, Pangaea. There were many mega-monsoons during this time. The Carnian epoch saw the first large abundance of calcareous nannoplankton (see picture). Also, archosaurs became the dominant animal during this period. -
Carnian Pluvial Event
During the Carnian epoch, Pangaea experienced a change in climate for a short amount of time. The climate went from arid and dry in the tropics to a wet tropical climate (see image). This event may have been the cause of some later important extinction. -
Pterosaur
The Pterosaur was the first vertebrate that was able to fly. It existed from 220 million years ago to 65.5 million years ago. It first appeared in the Carnian epoch. -
Norian Epoch
The Norian epoch lasted for around 13 million years. During this time period, there were seven different main types of dinosaurs. The Agnosphitys, Coelophysis, Halticosaurus, Liliensternus, Plateosaurus, Sellosaurus (see image), and Theocondontosaurus were all present. -
Coelophysis
The Coelophysis was an early dinosaur from about 216 million years ago. It was a small, chicken-like, dinosaur who measured over 9 feet in length and a meter tall at the hips. The Coelophysis was slim and a very fast runner. -
Rhaetian Epoch
The Rhaetian epoch is the last epoch of the Triassic period. During this time period, Pangaea had begun to break up. Multiple dinosaurs were present in this epoch as well as multiple types of mammals. Mammals such as Eozostrodon, Haramiya, and Megazostrodon (see picture) appearred during this epoch. -
Triassic-Jurassic Extinction
The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction is another major extinction during the Phanererozoic eon. During this time, around 50% of the known living species were wiped out. Around 20% of marine species alone were wiped out. However, this allowed dinosaurs (see image) to be the dominant species during the Jurassic period because hardly any were wiped out during this extinction.
