What Animals Are Still Alive From Dinosaur Times?
We all know who the real 'stars' of the Mesozoic Era were, but there were plenty of other incredible animals that lived at the same time as dinosaurs.
On this page you'll find a list of animals that lived with dinosaurs, with pictures and information about many different types of Mesozoic species.
Nosotros've tried to include not merely animals you've probably already heard of, but also a selection of lesser-known creatures of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
- This page is role of our Dinosaur Facts series.
Agile Wild would like to thank Rupert Harwood for his invaluable help in compiling this article.
You'll become a 'Mesozoic animal good' if you read the whole page, but if you desire to jump to a detail section you tin use the links below:
- Flying Animals That Lived With Dinosaurs
- Sea Animals That Lived at the Same Time every bit Dinosaurs
- Other Reptiles That Lived With Dinosaurs on Land
- Early Crocodiles That Lived At The Same Time Every bit Dinosaurs
- Mammals That Lived At The Aforementioned Time As Dinosaurs
- Other Animals That Lived With Dinosaurs
- Birds That Lived at the Aforementioned Time every bit Dinosaurs
Animals That Lived At The Same Time As Dinosaurs: Introduction
Because nosotros hear then much well-nigh dinosaurs, information technology's easy to forget that many other amazing animals lived in the Mesozoic Era.
Dinosaurs may have been the dominant animals on land, but in the bounding main and in the air it was a different story.
Pond in the Mesozoic oceans were huge meat-eating reptiles such every bit Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs and Mosasaurs, each of which were equally as fearsome as their land-based cousins.
While dinosaurs were busy stomping around on the ground, huge flying reptiles chosen Pterosaurs were soaring above their heads. Although dinosaurs did eventually evolve into birds and 'learn to wing' it was the Pterosaurs who ruled the Mesozoic skies.
Even on land, dinosaurs needed to be conscientious when walking near rivers and lakes. Early crocodile-like animals appeared long before the dinosaurs. By the end of the Mesozoic Era, they had evolved into animals that weren't really all that different to the crocodiles that live today – although some were much, much bigger!
Throughout the Mesozoic Era, the air would accept been filled with the abiding buzz of insects. Insects began to appear on Earth around 400 million years ago, in the Devonian menses. That's over 150 million years earlier the beginning dinosaurs!
Other familiar animals that lived in the Mesozoic Era include mammals, fish (including sharks), turtles, snakes, amphibians, lizards and birds. Some of these arrived earlier the dinosaurs, others subsequently, merely all were at some point live at the same fourth dimension as dinosaurs.
We'll notice out about many of these further downwardly the page, simply beginning here'south a reminder of how long agone all of this happened …
When Did Dinosaurs Live?
The Mesozoic Era began around 252 one thousand thousand years ago, and lasted for around 186 million years. This immense flow of time is divided into the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
- You can observe out more than almost the periods of the Mesozoic Era here: Dinosaur Periods.
Dinosaurs began to announced betwixt 243 and 231 million years ago, during the mid to late Triassic period. They became the dominant land animals in the Jurassic menstruum, and their reign continued throughout the Cretaceous period.
A worldwide extinction issue that occurred effectually 66 1000000 years ago* finally brought the reign of the dinosaurs to an end.
* For many years it was thought that the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction outcome that wiped out the dinosaurs occurred around 65 million years agone. Subsequent studies by geologists have shifted the time dorsum a meg years.
- You tin find out more than about the extinction of the dinosaurs here: Why did Dinosaurs Become Extinct?
Although the Mesozoic Era is all-time known as the 'Age of the Dinosaurs', they weren't the only animals around during this fourth dimension. Permit'due south meet some of the animals that lived aslope the dinosaurs …
List Of Animals That Lived At The Same Time As Dinosaurs
Flying Animals That Lived With Dinosaurs
Pterosaurs – the 'Flying Dinosaurs'
Despite ofttimes being called 'flying dinosaurs' Pterosaurs were NOT dinosaurs. Neither were they birds – or fifty-fifty ancestors of birds. They evolved quite independently to birds (which actually DID evolve from dinosaurs).
Pterosaurs appeared during the late Triassic period and existed right upwardly to the cease of the Cretaceous period. They had big, leathery wings, which were extended on specially-modified fourth fingers. Their other fingers formed claws which stuck out mid-manner along their wings.
Dimorphodon
Dimorphodon was a pterosaur that lived in the early Jurassic period. Like other early pterosaurs, it had a long bony tail that ended with a flattened 'paddle'. Its jaws were total of needle-like teeth.
Pterodactylus
Pterodactylus was a late Jurassic pterosaur. Information technology didn't accept a tail, and was relatively small.
Pterodactylus was the kickoff pterosaur to be identified as being a flying reptile. Considering of this, the word 'Pterodactyl' is sometimes used to describe all pterosaurs.
- Y'all can find out more about Pterodactylus hither: Pterodactylus Facts.
Quetzalcoatlus
The Quetzalcoatlus, a late-cretaceous pterosaur, was the largest e'er flying brute. Its wingspan may have reached 12 meters (39 ft.); that's longer than 6 tall men lying head to toe!
Sea Animals That Lived With Dinosaurs
The 'Pond Dinosaurs': Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs And Mosasaurs
Throughout the Mesozoic Era, the world's continents and oceans were continually changing shape and position.
In fact, at the offset of the Mesozoic Era, there was only i huge continent, called Pangaea, and i sea, called Panthalassa.
By the end of the Mesozoic Era, the continents were in roughly the positions that they are in today.
Throughout this time, various fearsome creatures fought for dominance of the seas.
Nothosaurs
Nothosaurs were a group of aquatic reptiles that spent much of their time in the water, but were able to haul themselves onto land to rest. Ranging from less than a meter (3ft.) to over 4 meters (13ft.), Nothosaurs had webbed feet and long necks.
Ichthyosaurs
Ichthyosaur means 'fish lizard'. These large marine predators appeared in the early to mid Triassic period. They thrived throughout the late Triassic and early Jurassic periods.
Ichthyosaurs looked similar to today's dolphins, and evolved from land animals in much the same way as dolphins did millions of years subsequently.
When unrelated species evolve the same characteristics independently of one another in this way, information technology's known as 'convergent evolution'.
Plesiosaurs
Plesiosaurs were big marine reptiles with brusque tails and long necks (the necks of some plesiosaurs were over half the length of their entire bodies!). Plesiosaurs propelled themselves through the water with 4 large paddles using a 'flying' activity.
Plesiosaurs appeared in the late Triassic period, and began to thrive during the Jurassic menses, overtaking Ichthyosaurs as the ascendant marine animals.
Pliosaurs
Pliosaurs were a group of large, curt-necked Plesiosaurs. Pliosaurs such as Kronosaurus and Liopleurodon were some of the largest meat-eaters always to have lived on Earth.
Mosasaurs
In the Cretaceous catamenia plesiosaurs began to turn down, and information technology was the Mosasaurs that took their identify. Mosasaurs were fearsome-looking marine predators. They had large heads and jaws total of sharp teeth.
Other Reptiles That Lived With Dinosaurs on Land
Dinosaurs didn't have it all their own mode! Both before and after the dinosaurs arrived, there were many other types of large predatory reptiles running around.
Proterosuchus
One of the largest land reptiles of the Early Triassic was Proterosuchus, a big, crocodile-like predator. Remains of this ambush hunter have been found in Southward Africa and Prc.
Tanystropheus
Tanystropheus was a half-dozen meter (20 ft.) long reptile that lived in the mid Triassic catamenia. It was a strange-looking fauna, whose neck was over twice its total body length. It probably hunted well-nigh h2o, plunging its long cervix under the water to grab passing fish.
Archosaurs
Archosaurs were a grouping of reptiles that became the ascendant land animals in the early Triassic menstruum.
Euparkeria
A member of this group was Euparkeria, a crocodile-like animal that inhabited mid Triassic lakes, rivers and swamps. It may accept been able to walk upright on its two longer hind legs, but is thought to have adult this power independently of the dinosaurs.
Pseudosuchia
Archosaurs dissever into ii main branches. One branch, the Avemetatarsalia, went on to become dinosaurs (and therefore birds) and alsoPterosaurs.
The other branch was the Pseudosuchia. They were the ancestors of today'due south Crocodilians – the group of animals that includes crocodiles, alligators and gharials.
These early on crocodile-like animals dominated the land throughout the Triassic period, even after dinosaurs had appeared.
A mass extinction at the stop of the Triassic period immune the dinosaurs to take over from the Pseudosuchians at the first of the Jurassic period.
Past the late Cretaceous period the Pseudosuchians had evolved into the Crocodilians … and since so take inverse very little.
An interesting fact that stems from all of this is that today, birds are the closest living relatives of the Crocodilians (and vice versa). Both of these groups are descended from Archosaurs! For case, a crow is more than closely related to an alligator than a sea turtle!
Early Crocodiles That Lived At The Same Time Every bit Dinosaurs
Postosuchus
Postosuchus was a Pseudosuchian that lived in the late Triassic period. It was one of the largest meat-eating reptiles of its day, and likely the noon predator in the N American region in which it lived.
Postosuchus grew to around 1.two m (3.9 ft.) in superlative, and 4 g (13 ft.) in length. It had a huge skull, jaws filled with sharp teeth, and thick, armored skin.
Sarcosuchus
Sarcosuchus, whose name means 'flesh crocodile', was one of the largest crocodilians ever to have lived. It grew to effectually 12 m (39 ft) in length and weighed upwardly to eight tonnes (8.8 short tons).
Deinosuchus
Deinosuchus, whose name means 'terrible crocodile' was a large Crocodilian that lived in Due north America in the Late Cretaceous period. Although much bigger than mod twenty-four hour period crocodilians, it was very similar in all other regards.
Turtles And Snakes
The crocodilians aren't the but familiar reptiles that made it past the Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction Event. The first lizards appeared in the Triassic flow, and turtles and snakes appeared in the Cretaceous flow; all are still around today.
Mammals That Lived At The Same Fourth dimension Every bit Dinosaurs
At some point In the Permian flow, a new branch of reptile-like animals emerged. They were the Synapsids. Although many of these looked like lizards or modest dinosaurs, one branch, called the Therapsids, would eventually evolve into mammals.
Therapsids were actually the dominant land animals in the Permian period, but in the Triassic the early Archosaurs took over. The mammals would take to look their plough!
Let's meet some notable mammals that were live with the dinosaurs …
Thrinaxodon
Cynodonts were a group of Therapsids that were even more mammal-like than their predecessors. Thrinaxodon was a domestic dog-sized cynodont that lived in S Africa in the Triassic period.
Although Thrinaxodon was all the same very reptilian, definite mammalian characteristics were beginning to sally. It had specialised biting, chewing and cutting teeth, and may accept had whiskers and fur – suggesting that it was warm-blooded.
Megazostrodon
Megazostrodon is considered past many to be i of the first mammals. It was a small, rat-like animal that appeared in the early Jurassic flow. Although covered in fur, it still had a scaly tail. Megazostrodon had a larger brain that before Cynodonts, and was possibly nocturnal. Mothers may accept produced milk for their young.
Didelphodon
Didelphodon was a cat-sized mammal that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous period. It was a curt but powerfully-built animal, probable to accept been an aquatic predator.
Didelphodon didn't make information technology by the Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction Event, but luckily for u.s., some mammals did!
Other Animals That Lived With Dinosaurs
As we plant at the start of this page, insects had been on Globe for millions of years before the dinosaurs. Huge dragonflies were buzzing back and along through the air and beetles were scurrying beyond the ground long before the Mesozoic Era.
Flies appeared in the Triassic period, and more insects appeared as flowering plants evolved in the Jurassic menstruation. The start moths and wasps appeared towards the end of the Jurassic period.
Amphibians, like insects, had been around since the Devonian menstruum. Amphibians evolved from fish, and reptiles evolved from amphibians. Amphibians, therefore, correspond the origin of all of the large country and h2o animals.
Beelzebufo ampinga
Beelzebufo ampinga, otherwise known as the 'Devil Frog' was a frog that lived in Madagascar in the Belatedly Cretaceous period. It grew to over 40 cm (16 in.) in length, making it significantly larger than any living frog.
Birds That Lived at the Same Time as Dinosaurs
Birds evolved from a branch of dinosaurs called theropods, which besides included well-known predators such as T King and Spinosaurus.
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx was one of the earliest birds. Information technology lived in what is at present Europe in the Late Jurassic period. Although it still had reptilian characteristics such every bit teeth and a long, bony tail, information technology had feathers which were formed much like those of a modern bird.
Scientists are divided on whether Archaeopteryx was capable of full 'flapping flight' like a modernistic-24-hour interval bird, or if information technology relied on gliding, with wing flaps to extend the fourth dimension it was able to spend in the air.
- Read more than almost Archaeopteryx hither: Archaeopteryx Facts
Iberomesornis
By the Early Cretaceous, the early birds were becoming even more bird-similar, and less reptilian. Iberomesornis was a sparrow-sized animal that was fully-feathered and capable of flapping flight. From a distance it would take looked like a minor, modern twenty-four hours songbird. Closer examination would take revealed that information technology nevertheless had claws on its wings and (probably) a beak full of teeth.
Animals That Lived With Dinosaurs: Conclusion
Nosotros hope that this page has given y'all some idea of the many different types of brute that lived alongside the dinosaurs.
Making a full list of animals that lived with dinosaurs is an impossible task: dinosaurs were present on Earth for millions of years, and during this vast period of fourth dimension countless animals both appeared and became extinct.
Although dinosaurs are the most famous of the animals that were alive during the Mesozoic Era, in that location was a multitude of other types of animals living at the same time.
While some of these, such every bit the pterosaurs and plesiosaurs, were 'dinosaur-like' in appearance, others looked more similar animals that are however around today. We hope that y'all've enjoyed meeting some of the non-dinosaur animals of the Mesozoic era!
Now that you know all about the animals that lived at the same time as dinosaurs, check out another dinosaur pages:
- Become a dinosaur expert: read our main Dinosaur Facts page!
- Discover some amazing dinos hither: List of Dinosaurs
- Desire to larn about more prehistoric animals? Visit: List Of Prehistoric Animals That Are Not Dinosaurs
Source: https://www.activewild.com/list-of-animals-that-lived-with-dinosaurs/
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