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PHYS 0106 (Spring, 2001) Earth History Timeline |
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| Phanerozoic Eon: Mesozoic Era: Jurassic Period | |||
Timeline Links Phanerozoic Neoproterozoic Mesoproterozoic Paleoproterozoic Archean Other Links Historical Geology Page Physical Geology Page Mike's Home Page |
Writer/Researcher: Kristine Langlois Editor: Robert H. Carney-Richter Web Page Builder: Kristine Langlois Have you everseen a cat hunt? The cat carefully stays hidden untill its prey is in sight. Then "BAM" out pops the cat surprising its prey to kill it. Back in the Jurassic period this happened daily. Based on speculation carnivorous dinosaurs could have stalked their prey this way. The Megalosaurs a carnivorus dinosaurs was the king of stalking its prey. The one-ton Megalosaurs could jump on to the back of any unsuspecting prey crunching its large serrated teeth into its skin, killing it. Size did not matter to the Megalosaurs. Scientists speculate that the Megalosaurus hunted large herbivores. They could attack and kill them easily. This large Saurischian (lizard-hipped) reptile could have roamed the Earth some 150 million years ago when Pangaea was starting to break apart. The climate on Earth was tropical and dinosaurs were abundant. There were many different carnivores and herbivores that roamed the land. Though mainly meat eaters the land-dwelling Megalosaurus also scavenged for food. These 30 ft long 10 ft tall predators were a danger to everyone. Their short powerful arms and legs were equipped with sharp claws. They were not only powerful predators, but because of their relitive brain size they were considered very intelligent. Their intelligence and strength helped them to be efficient hunters. In England, in the year 1676 the first fossil of the Megalosaurs was found. This was the second dinosaur fossil found, and the first one known to scientists. It was many years before the first dinosaur was given a scientific name. In 1824 William Buckland gave the first dinosaur the name, Megalosaurus. Today there are still fossilized tracks left in the limestone from where the Megalosaurus lived in England.
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