Historical Geology Chapter Vocabulary
Chapter 15-Life of the Mesozoic
based upon Historical Geology-by Wicander and Monroe
 

reminder..major extinctions at the end of the Permian; same thing at the end of the Mesozoic.

Ammonites were very common during the Jurassic and Cretaceous (some up to 2 meters).
Note difference between the nautiloids and the ammonites (sutures).
Echinoids (sea urchins) were also common during the late Mesozoic.

planktonic foraminifera very common  (Fig. 15.4)

coccolithophores were responsible for the large chalk beds formed during the Cretaceous.

Plants-GYMNOSPERMS dominated Trassic & Jurassic (Cycads)
ANGIOSPERMS showed up during early Cretaceous. (90% of all land species today)

REPTILES--the BIG story
2 major families of dinosaurs: LIZARD-HIPPED (Saurischia) and BIRD-HIPPED (Ornithischia)
For the Saurischia, the Pubis bone parallels the Ischium.  Fig. 15.9

Saurischians: Theropods: Tyrnnosaurus, Alosaurus, Veliciraptor
                      Sauropods:  Apatosaurus, Iguanodon, Stegoceras
Ornithischians: Ankylosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Protoceratops, Pachycephalosaurs, Hadrosaurs

Brachiosaurus (75 metric tons!)
Still a controversyas to whether or not dinosaurs were warm-blooded.

Flying reptiles: Pterosaurs (wing supported by the "baby finger". Fig. 15.14

Swimming reptiles: Ichthyosaurs (very fish-like), Mosasaurs (short-necked, lizard-like)),
Plesiosaurs (long-necked, some short-necked) FIg. 15.5 & 15.6

Birds: Archaeopteryx (like feathered dinosaurs)

Mammals: jaw is different from a reptile-only a single bone and hinged different.
Mammals have two sets of teeth and are specialized and double-rooted.
(Mammals chew their food.)
Three groups of mammals: Monotremes, Marsupials, Placentals.