Dinosaur facts: Early Cretaceous Period (145 to 100 million years ago)
What is the Early Cretaceous Period?
During the Early Cretaceous, several remarkable dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Here are some notable ones: One of the first dinosaurs ever discovered, Iguanodon was a large herbivore. It could walk on two legs or four and had a distinctive thumb spike, which it likely used for defense. Iguanodon grew up to 10 metres in length. A large and fearsome predator, Utahraptor was a member of the dromaeosaur family. It had sharp claws and teeth, with the largest claw on its foot used for hunting. Utahraptor measured about 6 metres in length. This armoured dinosaur had bony plates along its back and spikes on its sides for protection. Polacanthus was a herbivore and grew up to 5 metres in length. A smaller dinosaur, Psittacosaurus was an early member of the ceratopsian group. It had a beak-like mouth and was likely covered in bristle-like structures. Psittacosaurus measured about 2 metres in length. Acrocanthosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur, recognized by its high neural spines that formed a distinctive ridge along its back. It could reach up to 11 meters in length. Afrovenator was a medium-sized carnivore with a lightweight body built for speed. It measured around 9 meters in length and had sharp claws and teeth. Amargasaurus was a remarkable sauropod with elongated spines on its neck and back forming twin rows of spiky structures. It grew up to 10 meters in length. Baryonyx was a fish-eating dinosaur with a long, crocodile-like snout and large claws on its hands. It measured about 9 meters in length. Deinonychus was a small, agile predator with a sickle-shaped claw on each foot used for hunting. It grew up to 3.4 meters in length. Eotyrannus was an early relative of Tyrannosaurus Rex, characterised by a slender build and long arms. It measured around 4 meters in length. Fukuiraptor was a medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur with large claws and a sharp bite. It measured about 4.5 meters in length. Gastonia was an armoured dinosaur with a wide body and large spikes running down its sides. It grew up to 6 meters in length. Hypsilophodon was a small, fast-moving herbivore with a lightweight build, measuring about 2 meters in length. Irritator was a fish-eating dinosaur with a long snout and conical teeth. It measured around 8 meters in length. Jobaria Jobaria was a long-necked sauropod with a robust build. It grew up to 18 meters in length. Microraptor was a small, feathered dinosaur with wings on both its arms and legs, allowing it to glide. It measured about 1 meter in length. Minmi was a small, armoured dinosaur covered in bony plates for protection. It measured around 3 meters in length. Muttaburrasaurus was a large herbivore with a distinctive hump on its snout. It grew up to 7 meters in length. Neovenator was a medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur with sharp claws and teeth, measuring about 7.5 meters in length. Nodosaurus was an armoured herbivore with bony plates and spikes protecting its body. It grew up to 6 meters in length. Ouranosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur with a sail-like structure on its back formed by elongated spines. It measured about 7 meters in length. Pelecanimimus was a small, fast-moving dinosaur with numerous small teeth and a crest on its head. It measured around 2 meters in length. Sauropelta was an armoured dinosaur with large spikes along its sides and back. It grew up to 5 meters in length. Sinornithosaurus was a small, feathered dinosaur closely related to birds. It measured about 1 meter in length. Suchomimus was a fish-eating dinosaur with a long snout and large claws on its hands. It measured around 11 meters in length. Supersaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs, a long-necked sauropod that could reach up to 33 meters in length. Apart from dinosaurs, many other amazing animals shared the Early Jurassic world. The skies were home to flying reptiles like Pteranodon, which had a wingspan of about 7 metres. These pterosaurs hunted for fish and other small prey. The oceans were filled with marine reptiles like plesiosaurs and mosasaurs. Plesiosaurs had long necks and flippers, while mosasaurs were large predators with powerful tails. Ammonites, spiral-shelled mollusks, were also abundant. On land, early mammals like Eomaia started to diversify. These small, shrew-like creatures were among the first to show traits that would later define mammals, such as fur and live births. What Dinosaurs lived during the Early Cretaceous Period?
Iguanodon
Utahraptor
Polacanthus
Psittacosaurus
Acrocanthosaurus
Afrovenator
Amargasaurus
Baryonyx
Deinonychus
Eotyrannus
Fukuiraptor
Gastonia
Hypsilophodon
Irritator
Microraptor
Minmi
Muttaburrasaurus
Neovenator
Nodosaurus
Ouranosaurus
Pelecanimimus
Sauropelta
Sinornithosaurus
Suchomimus
Supersaurus
What other animals lived during the Early Cretaceous Period
In the Air
In the Ocean
On Land
Q1: What is the Early Cretaceous Period?
A1: The Early Cretaceous Period is the first half of the Cretaceous era, spanning from approximately 145 to 100 million years ago. It marks a time of significant growth and diversification of life forms.
Q2: What was the climate like during the Early Cretaceous Period?
A2: The climate during the Early Cretaceous was generally warm and humid, with lush forests and abundant vegetation.
Q3: What types of animals lived during the Early Cretaceous Period?
A3: The Early Cretaceous saw the emergence of various dinosaurs, marine reptiles, early mammals, and flying reptiles like pterosaurs.
Q4: What types of plants were common during the Early Cretaceous Period?
A4: The vegetation included conifers, ferns, cycads, and ginkgoes, forming dense forests that supported diverse ecosystems.
Q5: What significant geological events occurred during the Early Cretaceous Period?
A5: The Early Cretaceous was marked by the continued breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, leading to the formation of new landmasses and ocean basins.
Q6: What role did volcanic activity play during the Early Cretaceous Period?
A6: Volcanic activity contributed to the environmental changes, affecting the atmosphere and ecosystems.
Q7: Why is the Early Cretaceous Period important for understanding Earth's history?
A7: The Early Cretaceous is crucial for understanding the evolution and diversification of dinosaurs, the breakup of Pangaea, and the ecological changes that shaped the future of life on Earth.
Early Cretaceous FAQ
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