The Jurassic era was a time where dinosaurs began their world domination. The Triassic era wiped out many dinosaurs, but they found a way to evolve, and they did. In this era, dinosaurs grew truly huge. Some as small as rats, others as big as buses. Some grew half the size of football fields! If you were placed in this time, the ground would never stop shaking. Mammals, another group of animals stayed small and insignificant. The winged pterosaurs diversified at a high rate. The theropod dinos (carnivorous and omnivorous dinosaurs) grew in size and ferocity. Competition was fierce. In the Jurassic, Earth was very lush and warm. Rainforests sprung up on every continent, from the Arctic, to Antarctica. The world belonged to dinosaurs, and the dinosaurs were becoming very successful.
Earth in the Jurassic was beginning to change. The supercontinent Pangea was beginning to break apart. Gondwana was separated form Pangea and still remained intact. Many dinosaur species on Gondwana were very unique compared to the ones in North America, Africa, South America, and Eurasia. The Atlantic Ocean was born in this era, though it was very small. The Tethys Ocean grew much larger, and the Paleo-Tethys conjoined with the Tethys. Rainforests spread from pole to pole, and the world dryness began to become lush. Europe was a scattering of islands, and planet earth was dominated by the dinosaurs.
Here is a list of North American fauna that lived in the Jurassic era
Name: Allosaurus (different lizard)
Height: 16.5 feet
Length: 38 to 40 feet long
Weight: 1.4 to 3 tons
When and Where it lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 145 million years ago), North America, Europe, and Africa
Diet: Carnivore, any animal alive or dead
Description: A 40 foot long predator, Allosaurus ruled the North American, European, and African landscapes 150 to 145 million years ago. Unlike the Upper Cretaceous T-Rex, Allosaurus was a lot faster, but less robust. Allosaurus might have had a weak bite due to its skull analysis. Its bones were hollow, so it could have possibly been a fast runner. We do not know if it hunted alone or in packs, but tooth marks on large sauropods that matched Allosaurus teeth suggests that it might have, since it couldn't bring down a large animal on its own. It had long arms armed with sharp hooked claws that were used for ripping and tearing flesh. The predator was even capable of bringing down the large long-necked sauropods. It died out around 145 million years ago, and it was replaced with even larger, more dangerous carnivorous dinosaurs.
Height: 16.5 feet
Length: 38 to 40 feet long
Weight: 1.4 to 3 tons
When and Where it lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 145 million years ago), North America, Europe, and Africa
Diet: Carnivore, any animal alive or dead
Description: A 40 foot long predator, Allosaurus ruled the North American, European, and African landscapes 150 to 145 million years ago. Unlike the Upper Cretaceous T-Rex, Allosaurus was a lot faster, but less robust. Allosaurus might have had a weak bite due to its skull analysis. Its bones were hollow, so it could have possibly been a fast runner. We do not know if it hunted alone or in packs, but tooth marks on large sauropods that matched Allosaurus teeth suggests that it might have, since it couldn't bring down a large animal on its own. It had long arms armed with sharp hooked claws that were used for ripping and tearing flesh. The predator was even capable of bringing down the large long-necked sauropods. It died out around 145 million years ago, and it was replaced with even larger, more dangerous carnivorous dinosaurs.
Name: Stegosaurus (roof or covered lizard)
Height: 14 feet at the shoulders
Length: 28 feet long
Weight: 3 tons (6000 pounds)
Diet: Herbivore, Low lying plants and ferns
Where and When it Lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 144 million years ago), North America
Description: A Dino larger than an African Elephant, Stegosaurus was a truly magnificent dinosaur. Traveling in herds to increase protection, Stegosaurus lumbered across western North America 150 to 144 million years ago. Its most distinguishing characteristic was its bony plates and spiked tail. The use for the plates is still a mystery. Scientists think it might have been a way to attract mates or warn off predators, but guesses are still everywhere. Its spikes on the end of its tail were used as a defense mechanism, to slash a predator that came too close. If in contact with a predator, it would probably lay low and swing its tail back and fourth. The pose in the camera is probably a Stegosaurus in defense mode. The predator may be intimidated and decide to walk away. If the predator approached the Stegosaurus, it would whip its tail right at the predator. The large spikes would then puncture the attacker and either kill it, or immobilize it. This defense was crucial to the animals survival. It was one of the longest living Jurassic dinosaurs and it died out 144 million years ago.
Height: 14 feet at the shoulders
Length: 28 feet long
Weight: 3 tons (6000 pounds)
Diet: Herbivore, Low lying plants and ferns
Where and When it Lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 144 million years ago), North America
Description: A Dino larger than an African Elephant, Stegosaurus was a truly magnificent dinosaur. Traveling in herds to increase protection, Stegosaurus lumbered across western North America 150 to 144 million years ago. Its most distinguishing characteristic was its bony plates and spiked tail. The use for the plates is still a mystery. Scientists think it might have been a way to attract mates or warn off predators, but guesses are still everywhere. Its spikes on the end of its tail were used as a defense mechanism, to slash a predator that came too close. If in contact with a predator, it would probably lay low and swing its tail back and fourth. The pose in the camera is probably a Stegosaurus in defense mode. The predator may be intimidated and decide to walk away. If the predator approached the Stegosaurus, it would whip its tail right at the predator. The large spikes would then puncture the attacker and either kill it, or immobilize it. This defense was crucial to the animals survival. It was one of the longest living Jurassic dinosaurs and it died out 144 million years ago.
Name: Brachiosaurus (arm lizard)
Height: 40 to 50 feet tall
Length: 85 feet long
Weight: 60 tons
Diet: Herbivore, plants off trees
Where and When it lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 145 million years ago) North America, North Africa, and Europe
Description: Brachiosaurus was one of the biggest sauropods to walk the Earth. Its shear size would intimidate any smaller animal, including the dangerous theropods like Allosaurus or Ceratosaurus. The creatures shear size meant that it had to eat alot. In fact, that's probably all that it did. The brain of the giant was very small, and it is thought that Brachiosaurus had an extra brain in its hips to control its legs, but that is not a proven fact. Almost nothing could bring down this titan. It's only the young specimens that worry about predatory attack. The creature used its long neck to eat leaves off of trees. The Dino had no enemy but one, extinction. It faded into extinction 145 million years ago, but surprisingly, it would have even larger successors in the future.
Height: 40 to 50 feet tall
Length: 85 feet long
Weight: 60 tons
Diet: Herbivore, plants off trees
Where and When it lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 145 million years ago) North America, North Africa, and Europe
Description: Brachiosaurus was one of the biggest sauropods to walk the Earth. Its shear size would intimidate any smaller animal, including the dangerous theropods like Allosaurus or Ceratosaurus. The creatures shear size meant that it had to eat alot. In fact, that's probably all that it did. The brain of the giant was very small, and it is thought that Brachiosaurus had an extra brain in its hips to control its legs, but that is not a proven fact. Almost nothing could bring down this titan. It's only the young specimens that worry about predatory attack. The creature used its long neck to eat leaves off of trees. The Dino had no enemy but one, extinction. It faded into extinction 145 million years ago, but surprisingly, it would have even larger successors in the future.
Name: Ceratosaurus (Horned lizard)
Height: 13 feet tall
Length: 20 feet
Weight: 1.5 tons
Diet: Carnivore, small and medium sized animals, large animals if in packs
Where and When it lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 145 million years ago), North America
Description: A large theropod, Ceratosaurus hunted in the same habitat as The larger Allosaurus. Its hollow bones allowed it to run fast to pursuit prey. Its long arms with sharp claws allowed it to slash at prey. Its bite force was weak, but it still could have inflicted damage when it bit down on prey. Its crest on its head is thought to have been used in mating rituals, but its still unknown. The formidable predator went extinct at around 145 million years ago to be replaced by larger predators.
Height: 13 feet tall
Length: 20 feet
Weight: 1.5 tons
Diet: Carnivore, small and medium sized animals, large animals if in packs
Where and When it lived: Late Jurassic (150 to 145 million years ago), North America
Description: A large theropod, Ceratosaurus hunted in the same habitat as The larger Allosaurus. Its hollow bones allowed it to run fast to pursuit prey. Its long arms with sharp claws allowed it to slash at prey. Its bite force was weak, but it still could have inflicted damage when it bit down on prey. Its crest on its head is thought to have been used in mating rituals, but its still unknown. The formidable predator went extinct at around 145 million years ago to be replaced by larger predators.