EARLY JURASSIC Meaning and
Definition
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The term "Early Jurassic" refers to a specific period in Earth's geologic history that occurred approximately 201 to 174 million years ago. It is part of the larger geologic era known as the Mesozoic Era. The name "Jurassic" originates from the Jura Mountains located between France and Switzerland, where rocks from this time period were first extensively studied.
During the Early Jurassic, the Earth experienced significant changes following the mass extinction event that marked the end of the preceding Triassic Period. Many new species evolved during this time, particularly in the marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Climate conditions were generally warm and humid, with global sea levels gradually rising.
The Early Jurassic is characterized by the dominance of reptiles, particularly dinosaurs, which diversified and thrived during this period. Numerous iconic dinosaur species emerged, including the small and agile theropods, and the herbivorous sauropods. Additionally, marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs flourished in the oceans.
The Early Jurassic also witnessed the evolution of various plant groups, including conifers and cycads, which began to dominate terrestrial habitats. In addition, insects, including beetles and flies, diversified and played crucial roles in pollination and other ecological processes.
Overall, the Early Jurassic period was characterized by important biological and environmental changes, marked by the emergence and diversification of iconic reptiles and the evolution of various plant and insect groups.
Etymology of EARLY JURASSIC
The word "early" comes from the Old English word "ærlīce", which means "in the morning" or "at the beginning". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "arlijaz", meaning "early" or "soon". "Jurassic", on the other hand, comes from the Jurassic Period, a geological epoch that lasted from approximately 201.3 million to 145 million years ago. The term "Jurassic" was coined in 1795 by the French mineralogist and geologist Alexandre Brongniart, who named it after the Jura Mountains located between France and Switzerland.
