The Triassic–Jurassic extinction
Pangaea rifts — and the dinosaurs inherit the planet
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The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province covered over eleven million square kilometres across Morocco, Iberia, North America and Brazil, and marks the rifting that opened the Atlantic. Its CO₂ emissions caused rapid warming and ocean acidification; the reefs disappeared again. Crocodile-line archosaurs, the major reptile groups that had until then competed with dinosaurs, were decimated. The dinosaurs themselves were moderately affected, and emerged from the crisis as the dominant land fauna — a position they held for 135 million years.
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As Pangaea began to split, lava poured out over an area larger than Europe. CO₂ from the eruptions heated the planet and acidified the ocean. Half of all species disappeared — and among them most of the dinosaurs' competitors.
Connects to
Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org