Triassic time 245-208 million years ago |
Animals with backbones battled it out. |
| Large protomammals were top predators 245 million years ago. As the Triassic wore one, primitive crocodiles and related thecodonts took over large, medium, and even some small niches. Evolving about 230 million years ago dinosaurs fought for meat and territory with protomammals, primitive crocodiles, and thecodonts. All thecodont families died out at the end of the Triassic leaving many niches unfilled. |
Click on photo for larger image. |
Coelophysis bauri 2.5 meters; 40-60 pounds Like a bird, Coelophysis located prey with large eyes from a head held high supported by an s-shaped neck. Powerful leg muscles attached to hollow birdlike bones and deep hips carried Coelophysis in hot pursuit. Lunging with its neck outstretched, blunt lower teeth held a victim while serrated upper teeth pulled and tore backwards. This Coelophysis was cast as it was found in rock. Ligaments shrank as they dried pulling the neck into a typical death pose. A skeleton of a young Coelophysis lies in the body cavity. Was it a baby? Was it eaten by the adult? Or, did the adult body simply overlie the youngster in death? |
Fossils on exhibit |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Description | Location | Time |
| Postosuchus (thecodont) | tooth | Dockum Formation, Palo Duro Canyon, Texas | Late Triassic |
| Coelophysis bauri (dinosaur) | complete skeleton (cast) | Ghost Ranch, New Mexico | Late Triassic, Early Jurassic |
(An interactive panel, not shown, features 24 primitive crocodiles, thecodonts, flying reptiles, protomammals, and dinosaurs.)
