Early Jurassic Period Pronunciation
201-174 million years ago
The Early Jurassic was an explosive period of dinosaur diversification. With the Triassic extinction clearing out much of the competition, dinosaurs quickly spread across the world and began evolving into the major groups that would define the age. The first large sauropods appeared, predatory theropods grew bigger, and the world was lush and warm.
Dinosaurs of the Early Jurassic
Anchisaurus
ANK-ee-sore-us
Cryolophosaurus
CRY-oh-LOAF-oh-sore-us
Dilophosaurus
die-LOAF-oh-sore-us
Heterodontosaurus
HET-er-oh-DON-toh-sore-us
Jingshanosaurus
jing-SHAHN-oh-sore-us
Lesothosaurus
leh-SO-toh-SORE-us
Lufengosaurus
loo-FUNG-oh-SORE-us
Massospondylus
mass-oh-SPON-di-luss
Mussaurus
moos-SORE-us
Scelidosaurus
skel-EYE-doh-sore-us
Scutellosaurus
skoo-TELL-oh-sore-us
Segisaurus
sayg-ee-SOR-us
Vulcanodon
vul-KAN-oh-don
Fun Facts
- ✓Dinosaurs diversified explosively in the Early Jurassic after the end-Triassic extinction cleared out competitors.
- ✓The Early Jurassic saw the first large sauropodomorphs, ancestors of the giant long-necked dinosaurs.
- ✓Dilophosaurus, one of the first large predatory dinosaurs, lived in the Early Jurassic.
- ✓Pangaea was still largely intact in the Early Jurassic, allowing dinosaur species to spread across the globe.