| The Triassic Period began with the impact of the largest object ever to strike the Earth, and several other significant impacts occurred during the period. A 40 km craterform structure from about 250 million years ago is located in Brazil (and may be associated with the same fall that started the period.) A 23 km impact site from 225 mya is found in Manitoba, a 100 km structure (Manicouagan Lake) dated to 220 mya is found in Quebec, and a 215 million year old structure is located in the Ukraine.
During this period we see the rise of the thecodonts and their descendants, the dinosaurs and birds, and also the rise of mammals.
Early species of evergreen trees dominate the Triassic terrain.
The earliest dinosaurs and mammals date back to the late Triassic period, about 225 million years ago. Most of the first Triassic dinosaurs were small and quick meat-eaters that walked on their hind legs.
Dinosaurs of the Triassic period include:
Plateosaurus, Lesothosaurus, Saltopus, Massospondylus, Anchisaurus, Coelophysis, Dilophosaurus, Eoraptor, Herrerasaurus, Mussaurus, Riojasaurus.
Triassic Period Jurassic Period Cretaceous Period
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