What are Some Triassic Organisms?
The Triassic period, which extends from 251 to 199 million years ago, is the first geologic period of the Mesozoic era. During the Triassic, most of the Earth’s land mass was locked in a supercontinent known as Pangaea. The interiors of the continent were vast, dry deserts, while swamps and forests circled the fringes. The Triassic was a warm and dry period, with no evidence of glaciation. In fact, the poles were moist and warm, a perfect climate for reptiles. The Triassic started immediately after the worst mass extinction the Earth has ever seen, the Permian-Triassic extinction event. In 10,000 years or less, 96% of all marine species and 70% of all terrestrial vertebrate species went extinct. This event was so extreme that it is called “the Great Dying” by many paleontologists. It is thought to have been caused by a combination of factors, especially extreme and continuous volcanic eruptions known today as “traps.” The Permian-Triassic extinction event hit marine fauna hardest, wipi
