Early–Middle Jurassic, ~200–170 million years agoReputable sourceWell documented

Pangaea Breaks Apart

On the timeline · around Early–Middle Jurassic, ~200–170 million years ago · The Jurassic

What happened

During the Jurassic, the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart, opening new seaways and separating the land into drifting continents. The climate grew warmer and wetter, and lush vegetation spread across the world.

Why it matters

The breakup created varied new habitats and isolated dinosaur populations, driving them to evolve into an extraordinary range of forms — including the largest animals ever to walk the Earth.

Sources

Natural History Museum. The Jurassic Period: how did dinosaurs go from basal to bulky? · Reputable source

Part of a timelineThe Age of Dinosaurs24 events · From the Great Dying to the asteroid that ended it all — 186 million years of dinosaurs, giants, and the birds they left behind, every milestone sourced.View all →