Late Jurassic

The Late Jurassic

The Late Jurassic was a special time long, long ago — about 161.5 to 143.1 million years ago. It was a part of the bigger Jurassic period. Scientists love to study this time because it tells us a lot about Earth’s past.

Back then, the world looked very different. The big land called Pangaea had split into two parts: Laurasia up north and Gondwana down south. Places we know today like Europe, North America, Africa, and even Australia were all moving around.

Famous Dinosaurs and Friends

The Late Jurassic is famous for its wonderful dinosaurs! Big, long-necked sauropods like Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus walked the Earth. There were also smaller dinosaurs and even the very first birds, like Archaeopteryx. The oceans had amazing sea creatures too, such as Liopleurodon and Ophthalmosaurus.

Learning From Rocks

Scientists look at special rocks called Upper Jurassic strata to learn about this time. In Europe, these rocks are sometimes called "Malm". These rocks help tell the story of what the plants, animals, and weather were like millions of years ago.

The Late Jurassic was a time of amazing changes and wonderful creatures. It helps us understand how our planet has changed over millions of years!