Within the era of Mesozoic There have been 3 periods that have marked differences in the evolution of our planet: Triassic, Jurassic y Cretaceous. On the dividing line that existed the pre-Triassic period, the PermianA mass extinction event occurred on a global scale, resulting in the disappearance of 95% of all living species. This meant that the Triassic fauna represented something of a reset for all life on the planet. The few species that managed to survive this mass extinction had to adapt to the new terrestrial and marine conditions.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you everything you need to know about Triassic fauna.
Development of the Triassic flora
Despite this process of mass extinction on a global scale, numerous species were able to adapt to the new ways of life and, little by little, diversify over time. Throughout this period, plants formed vast forests, and it was the dinosaurs that began to dominate the planet. They were animals that dominated virtually all existing habitats on land, air, and sea.
We are going to give a brief review of the development of the flora in this period. At the beginning of the Triassic, many plants became extinct since environmental conditions were not the most suitable for them to develop and diversify properly. This is why the plants that were able to survive this period of extinction were able to diversify fairly easily, given that the level of competition was much lower. The plants that were able to survive and diversify in large numbers were mainly those belonging to the gymnosperm group.
These plants are known as naked-seeded plants. Conifers and cycads stand out within this group of plants. Representatives of the ginkgo and fern genera were also quite important. Conifers represented the group of plants with thick, woody, and fairly resistant stems. Their leaves were typically evergreen and monoecious. This meant that both their male and female reproductive organs existed in the same individual.
On the other hand, cycads were plants with a woody stem and no branching. Their leaves were located at the apical end of the plant and were dioecious. This means that male and female individuals exist separately. Ginkgo were quite abundant during this period, and only the Ginkgo biloba species survives today. Finally, ferns were vascular plants that already belonged to the pteridophyte group and possess phloem and xylem.
Development of the Triassic fauna
The most representative fauna of this period was made up of two groups: reptiles and dinosaurs. It was the invertebrates that were able to achieve greater development at the level of the aquatic ecosystem. Some species of reptiles also developed in marine environments and were able to dominate much of the seas.
As for the air, some reptiles began to be observed that had certain adaptations to the present environmental conditions and were able to fly. To do this, they needed various anatomical mutations to adapt their arms and limbs to flight.
We are going to develop in a deeper way all the fauna of the Triassic.
Terrestrial Triassic fauna
Within these ecosystems, several groups of animals with unique characteristics developed: mammalian reptiles and dinosaurs.
Mammalian reptiles
This group was known as therapsids. Physically, we could see that these animals were a hybrid between a dog and a lizard. Their limbs were quite long in relation to the rest of their bodies, but they had very short tails. Their teeth had different shapes depending on the diet of each species. When the diet was primarily herbivorous, we can see that the teeth were primarily developed through molars. Molars are more useful for grinding plants. However, if the diet was entirely carnivorous, better development of the canines and carnal teeth could be seen.
Triassic dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are thought to have appeared during this period. Among the most representative dinosaurs are the prosauropods and theropods. Let's analyze the details.
Prosauropods
They were animals with large bodies and very long necks. However, their length was not as great as that of the herbivores that lived during the Jurassic Period. Their forelimbs were less developed than their hindlimbs. Within the prosauropods, there were some species divisions. The predominant ones were the Mussaurus and the Sellosaurus.
Theropods
These were the other dinosaur groups that stood out during this period. They were a group of carnivorous dinosaurs. Their main characteristics included a bipedal gait and poorly developed forelimbs. The size of these species varied depending on the ecosystems in which they were found. As animal evolution preceded a mass extinction, genetic adaptations occurred more rapidly. This is because environments were changing rapidly at that time, as flora also underwent its own development.
Some species of theropods They did not exceed one meter, while others were capable of reaching up to 12 meters. Some of the best known theropod species were the Tawa and the Euroraptor.
Aquatic Triassic fauna
Invertebrates developed primarily within the aquatic environment. These were represented by mollusks, most notably gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods. Some corals also developed on the seafloor.
Aquatic reptiles also developed significantly during this period. Nothosaurs and ichthyosaurs are notable. Among aerial reptiles, there was also a group that developed quite well compared to others. They were able to generate membranes that extended from their trunks to their upper limbs. These limbs enabled them to fly. This group includes the pterosaurs, which were oviparous and had elongated beaks. Their diet was carnivorous.
I hope this information helps you learn more about Triassic fauna.