Jurassic

—Geological period 295 - 135 million years ago.

ANATOSAURUS anectens (formerly called TRACHODON)The Anatosaurus was the classic "duck billed" dinosaur, and its name was given to the whole group of these animals. The name means "duck lizard", which refers to its broad toothless snout. Fossils of this dinosaur are quite common, and some mummified specimens have been discovered with the skin and even some of the internal organs preserved.TIME - 77 - 73 MYA, Late CretaceousRANGE - USA -Alaska, Colorado, Montana, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Wyoming. Canada - Alberta, Saskatchewan.DIET - This dinosaur was a herbivore, with a diet consisting of various foliage & fruits.SIZE - Adults reached up to 43 ft (13m) in length and were 13ft (4m) tall.WEIGHT - Up to 4 US tons.see time period

BRACHIOSAURUS brancaiThis is one of the better known sauropods. Standing at about 52 feet (16m) high, this treetop eater has high placed nostrils which is believed to have increased the sense of smell or function as a cooling surface for the blood. First thought of as swimmers, the Brachiosaurus is now thought of as land roaming. It's small feet had large claws, the purpose of which are unknownTIME - 156 - 145 MYA, Late JurassicRANGE - Colorado, TanzaniaSIZE - 82 feet long (25m)see time period

CAMARASAURUS supremusThe Camarasaurus was a large Jurassic sauropod that subsided in moist tropical plains. It had a small head with many spoon shaped teeth that assisted in chewing the tough fibrous plants of that time. With its long neck it could eat the fresher materials at the top of the larger trees and plants. Being a herd animal, the Camarasaurus was constantly bothered by predacious dinosaurs, one of which was the Allosaurus.TIME - 156 - 145 MYA, Late JurassicRANGE - USA (Colorado,Utah,Wyoming)SIZE - Up to 66ft (20m) long .ALLOSAURUS fragilisThe Allosaurus was the main meat eating dinosaur of the Jurassic and the greatest worry of the herbivorous dinosaurs of its days. It probably traveled in small group to assist each other in the attack on a larger animal, such as Apatosaurus. Allosaurus received its name based on some smal finds in 1877 and the first complete skeleton was unearthed in 1883 and 1884.TIME - 156 - 145 MYA, Late Jurassic period.RANGE - USA (Colorado,Utah,Wyoming)SIZE - Up to 36ft (12 m) long.see time period

CARNOTAURUS sastreiThe bulldog faced Carnotaurus is a very unusual meat - eater. It was a huge dinosaur having a large skull with a pair of prominent horns above the eyes. It lived in what is now South America where many unusual dinosaurs have been discovered. TIME - 113 - 91 MYA - Middle Cretaceous Period RANGE - Patagonia, ArgentinaDIET - Carnivore (meat eater)see time period

CERATOSAURUS nasicornisThis therapod had a pair of bony ridges above its eyes and a horn on its snout. These were probably used by males when fighting for a mate. Ceratosaurus was an active predator and had massive jaws and a hand with four fingers, unlike Allosaurus, who had three.TIME - 156 - 145 MYA, Late Jurassic.RANGE - USA Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Africa - Tanzania (Mtwara).DIET - Carnivore (meat eater)SIZE - Up to 20ft (6m) long.WEIGHT - 1 US ton.see time period

CERATOSAURUS nasicornisThis therapod had a pair of bony ridges above its eyes and a horn on its snout. These were probably used by males when fighting for a mate. Ceratosaurus was an active predator and had massive jaws and a hand with four fingers, unlike Allosaurus, who had three.TIME - 156 - 145 MYA, Late Jurassic period.RANGE - USA Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Africa - Tanzania (Mtwara).DIET - Carnivore (meat eater)SIZE - Up to 20ft (6m) long.WEIGHT - 1 US ton.STEGOSAURUS armatusA well known dinosaur, the stegosaurus was a large, heavy limbed, short legged, plant eater. Two rows of triangular shaped plates ran the course of its back, leading to its tail which displayed four long spikes. The spikes were probably weapons of defense, and the plates are now thought by many to help control body temperature.TIME - 156 - 145 MYA, Late Jurassic period.RANGE - Wyoming, Utah, Colorado.DIET - Herbivorous (plants)SIZE - 25ft (7 m) long.see time period

CORYTHOSAURUS casuariusThe Corythosaurus, characterized by a spectacular crest, was a member of the duck bills. It was a well adapted herd animal and is quite prevalent in the North American fossil record. TIME - 75MYA, Late Cretaceous period.RANGE - USA - Montana CANADA - AlbertaDIET - These herbivorous browsers fed on pine needles, magnolia leaves, seeds, and various other plants as well as fruits.SIZE - Lengths up to 27ft (9m) long.WEIGHT - Adults weighed up to 5 US tons.see time period

DILOPHOSAURUS wetherilliDilophosaurus was a predator with a very unusual skull. It had a pair of semicircular, bony crests that rose vertically on either side of the skull. These crests were very thin in places and were given support by vertical struts of bone. The tip of each crest narrowed into a spike at the back of the skull. Dilophosaurus was quick and probably traveled together and hunted in groups. TIME - 208 - 194 MYA, Early Jurassic period.RANGE - USA (Arizona).DIET - Carnivore (meat eater)SIZE - Juvenile 20ft (6m) long.SCUTELLOSAURUS lawleriAn early ornithopod, Scutellosaurus is interesting because it walked on all fours and ran on its hind legs. It had a short skull and the hind legs longer than the arms, and it had a very long tail. Rows of bony studs covered back and sides, and this protected the animal against attack in the event that it could not run away.TIME - 208 - 200 MYA, Early Jurassic period.RANGE - USA (Arizona).DIET - Various plants, seeds and fruits.SIZE - Averaged 4ft (1.2m) long.see time period

DIPLODOCUS carnegiiDiplodocus was a huge creature with an extremely long neck and a long whip like tail. The name Diplodocus means "double beam" and describes a special feature of the backbone. Most of this herbivorous animals length was in the neck and tail. It lived in marshy regions where it could take refuge from predators if the need arose. TIME - 150MYA, Late Jurassic period.RANGE - USA Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.SIZE - Averaged 88ft (27m).WEIGHT - 11 US tons.see time period

GALLIMIMUS bullatusLargest of the ornithomimosaurids, Gallimimus had a long snout with a flat end, large eyes, and long, toothless jaws. This dinosaur also had weak hands with four fingers that could grab objects, such as eggs. It was one of the fastest of the dinosaurs and was capable of speeds exceeding 25 MPH. TIME - 75 - 70MYA, Late Cretaceous period.RANGE - Gobi desert, Mongolia.DIET - Gallimimus fed on small vertebrates, eggs and insects.SIZE - Reached lengths up to 17ft (5m).WEIGHT - 2 US tons.see time period

208-144 Million Years AgoHere began the Age of the Ruling Reptiles. During this period, vegetation was greener and more lush. By Late Jurassic, huge dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and Allosaurus walked the lands. Flying reptiles ruled the skies. The earliest known birds also appeared.Dilophosaurus & Scuttelosaurus Stenopterygius Plesiosaurus(brachypterygius) Ceratosaurus(nasicornis) Rhamphorhynchus Diplodocus(carnegii) Camarasaurus & Allosaurus Brachiosaurus(brancai) Ceratosaurus & Stegosaurus see list of time periods

PLESIOSAURUS brachypterygiusThis marine reptile had arms and legs that were long paddles used to propel the animal through the water with great maneuverability. Plesiosaurus had a small head on the end of a long neck and rows of sharp teeth. Plesiosaurus was probably the first fossil reptile to be seen by scientists. TIME - 135MYA, Late JurassicRANGE - Europe England and Germany, East Africa.Some American species are known as well.SIZE - Grew up to lengths of 16.5ft (5m).see time period

RHAMPHORHYNCHUSRhamphorhynchus was an early pterosaur. It belonged to a group called the rhamphorhynchoids. They were small in size and had long narrow wings made from skin stretched over a long fourth finger of the hand. These animals also could have had a throat pouch for storage. TIME - 150MYA, Late Jurassic period.RANGE - Europe - Germany Solnhofen limestone, Africa -Tanzania.SIZE - Reached seagull size, 7in. to 1.5ft, with a wingspan of up to 2 to 2.5ft.see time period

STENOPTERYGIUSStenopterygius, one of the Ichthyosauruses , was an aquatic reptile that filled the same niche that the dolphins and porpoises exist in today. They were fast swimmers and fed on fish and other sea life. Some typical features of this reptile are long jaws with numerous teeth, eyes set within a ring of bony plate, the reduction of the pelvic girdle components, the associated paddle, and subdivided finger rows. The most astonishing feature of the Ichthyosauruses is that they gave live births. Fossils have been discovered that show a mother that had died while giving birth. The Ichthyosauruses were most prevalent during the Jurassic period. TIME - Early and Middle Jurassic.RANGE - Europe (England and Germany), South America.SIZE - Up to 6ft 6inches long (2m).DIET - Fish, shellfish and other invertebrates.see time period

TARBOSAURUS baatarThis giant creature was the Asian counterpart of the T-rex, eating anything it came across. Because of its bulkiness, it was probably a scavenger. The Tarbosaurus was slightly lighter than the T-rex and had a longer skull. TIME - 68 - 65 MYA, Late Cretaceous period.RANGE - Asia (Mongolia)DIET - Carnivore (meat eater)SIZE - Up to 46ft (14m) long and 24ft(8m) tall.see time period

TRICERATOPS prorsusTriceratops was the most numerous of the horned dinosaurs as well as the largest. These animals lived in vast herds and are very common occurrences in the fossil record. Triceratops had a skull that reached up 6ft (2m) in length with three protective horns and a great frill of bone that served for muscle attachment to the neck as well as protection. It also had a thick bumpy hide, prints of which have survived, to protect it against predator attacks, many of which could have come from the fearsome T-rex. The name Triceratops means " three horned face". TIME - 70 - 65MYA, Late Cretaceous period.RANGE - USA Montana, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Colorado, WyomingCanada-Alberta, Saskatchewan.DIET - Various plants.SIZE - At least 25ft(8m) long.WEIGHT - 2 US tons.see time period