Jurassic Animals

[Audio] Jurassic Animals. Jurassic Animals. By: Prasanna.K.

[Audio] Jurassic Land Animals Although dinosaurs such as allosaurus, diplodocus and stegosaurus ruled the land during the Jurassic Period, they were by no means the only Jurassic animals..

[Audio] Jurassic Land ReptilesCrocodylomorpha The archosaurs were a group of reptiles that first appeared in the Triassic Period. The group split into two branches: the pseudosuchians and the branch that produced both the dinosaurs and the pterosaurs. Although the pseudosuchians dominated during the Triassic Period, the Triassic-Jurassic Extinction Event killed off many of their number, leaving only the Crocodylomorpha – a group of crocodile-like reptiles. This allowed the dinosaurs to become the dominant land predators of the Jurassic Period. Although the pseudosuchians no longer ruled the land, they didn't disappear entirely (they were, after all, the ancestors of today's crocodiles). During the Jurassic Period, however, the early crocodiles were restricted to an aquatic lifestyle, and were found in both freshwater and marine habitats..

[Audio] Protosuchus. Protosuchus.

[Audio] Protosuchus was a crocodylomorph – an early ancestor of today's crocodiles – that lived during the early Jurassic Period. 1 m ( 3.3 ft.) in length, protosuchus had armored skin and powerful jaws, just like a modern crocodile. Unlike a modern crocodile, however, it stood further off the ground, on straight, rather than sprawled, legs. This suggests that it may have hunted on land, and had not become fully aquatic..

[Audio] Metriorhynchus With the dinosaurs becoming the dominant meat-eaters on land, several early crocodiles took to the oceans in order to survive. Metriorhynchus was one such crocodylomorph. Specimens of this marine crocodile have been found in England, France and Germany. Metriorhynchus was highly adapted to a marine existence, with paddle-like hands and feet, and a fish-like tail. It was around 3 m ( 10 ft.) in length, and preyed on fish and cephalopods such as ammonites..

Metriorhynchus.

[Audio] Rhynchocephalia Rhynchocephalia is a branch of lizard-like reptiles that first appeared in the Triassic Period. In the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods they became widespread. Today only one species remains: the tuatara, which is found in New Zealand..

[Audio] PleurosaurusPleurosaurus was an aquatic member of Rhynchocephalia that lived in the Late Jurassic. It was a long, thin reptile, reaching around 1.5 m ( 4.9 ft.) in length. Its hands and feet had evolved into paddles with which it propelled itself through the water in pursuit of its fish prey..

[Audio] Testudinata ( Turtles) Testudinata is the branch of reptiles that includes the turtles and their prehistoric relatives. The first turtles appeared in the Triassic Period..

[Audio] Kayentachelys Kayentachelys was a turtle that lived during the Early Jurassic. Specimens of this early turtle have been found in the Kayenta Formation in Arizona..

[Audio] Squamata Squamata is the reptilian branch that includes lizards and snakes. The first lizards appeared in the Early Jurassic, but snakes wouldn't appear until the Cretaceous Period..

[Audio] Ardeosaurus Ardeosaurus was an early lizard whose fossilized remains were discovered in Jurassic rocks in Germany. It is thought to be one of the first-known geckos. It was around 20 cm ( 7.9 in) in length. Ardeosaurus's large eyes suggest that it may have been nocturnal..

[Audio] Jurassic Amphibians Amphibians evolved from fish way back in the Devonian Period, millions of years before the start of the Jurassic Period. Due in part to their reliance on water in order to reproduce, amphibians were outcompeted by both the reptiles and early ancestors of mammals in the Mesozoic Era. The Jurassic Period saw the appearance of all three of the modern amphibian groups: Anura ( frogs and toads), Caudata ( salamanders) and Gymnophiona ( caecilians)..

[Audio] Prosalirus Prosalirus is one of the earliest-known true frogs. Only three specimens have been found of this Early Jurassic amphibian, all of which were discovered in Arizona. Prosalirus had many frog-like characteristics, including hind legs that were adapted for jumping and the absence of a tail..

[Audio] Karaurus Karaurus is one of the earliest-known salamanders. A specimen found in Kazakhstan is the first and only example of this Jurassic amphibian. Karaurus was around 19 cm ( 7.5 in.) in length. It had a wide head and short body, and may have preyed on aquatic invertebrates..

[Audio] Jurassic Pterosaurs Pterosaurs are flying reptiles that first appeared during the Triassic Period, after having branched off from the line of reptiles that would become the dinosaurs..

[Audio] Dimorphodon Dimorphodon was a small pterosaur that lived in the Early Jurassic in what is now England. Its name means ' two types of teeth'. The name refers to the two types of teeth present in dimorphodon's beaked mouth, which contained 30- 40 small, pointed teeth and around 4 larger fang-like front teeth. Dimorphodon had a body length of around 1 m ( 3.3 ft.), and a wingspan of around 1.45 m ( 4.75 ft.). Its large head accounted for a quarter of its total body length but its jaws were relatively weak. For this reason it is likely that dimorphodon hunted insects or small vertebrates..

Dimorphodon. www.ActiveWild.com CatmandO/Shutterstock.com.

[Audio] Pterodactylus Pterodactylus was the first pterosaur to have been identified as a flying reptile. Its name means ' wing finger'; as with all pterosaurs, pterodactylus has an elongated fourth finger that supports the wing. Pterodactylus had a wingspan of around 2.5 m ( 8 ft.). Most specimens have been found in Germany. Because Pterodactylus is one of the best-known pterosaurs, the word ' pterodactyl' is sometimes (incorrectly) used to refer to all pterosaurs..