Definition: The Jurassic Period (213 to 144 million years ago) is the second of three periods during the Mesozoic Era. It is preceeded by the Triassic Period and it is followed by the Cretaceous Period.
The Jurassic Period is referred to as the Age of Reptiles, since reptiles were diverse and abundant during the time period. On land, there were large dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and Allosaurus. In the seas, there were ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. The skies were also the realm of the reptiles, with creatures like Rhamphorhynchus and Archaeopteryx taking to the air during the Jurassic.
The Jurassic also saw the emergence of the first mammals and birds.
