Triassic period: life recovers, first dinosaurs appear
From 252 to 201 million years ago life rebounded and the first dinosaurs, mammals and flying reptiles evolved.
Slow recovery after the Great Dying
The Triassic lasted from 252 to 201 million years ago, about 51 million years. Only about 10 percent of species survived, so fungi, small snails and disaster plants dominated early landscapes for 5 million years.
By 245 million years ago ichthyosaurs up to 10 meters and 3-meter nothosaurs filled seas. On land 5-meter predators and 2-meter cynodonts rebuilt food chains before true dinosaurs arrived near 240 million years ago.
First dinosaurs, mammals and another fall
Early dinosaurs like 1-meter Eoraptor and 6-meter Plateosaurus appeared about 240 to 230 million years ago. The first mammals, shrew-sized animals under 100 grams, and pterosaurs with 1-meter wingspans evolved by 220 million years ago.
Around 201 million years ago Central Atlantic eruptions split Pangaea and killed about 75 percent of species. Large amphibians and non-dinosaur archosaurs vanished, letting giant Jurassic sauropods and theropods dominate next.
- Lasted 51 million years, 252 to 201 million years ago.
- First dinosaurs near 240 million years ago.
- First mammals under 100 grams.
- Pterosaurs with 1-meter wings by 220 million years.
- Final extinction killed 75 percent of species.