When you want to dig for dino data!
When you want to dig for dino data!
Dinosaurs lived in what is called the Mesozoic Era, a period of time in the Earth's history spanning from about 252 to 66 million years ago (MYA). The history of the Earth has been categorized by geologists into time frames that are shown on the page below. Only the Mesozoic era is shown, as that is the era that concerns dinosaurs. To save space, the eon (Phanerozoic) and era (Mesozoic) are not shown.
The timeline of the Earth is divided into Eons, which span large swaths of time. Eons are divided into Eras, which are divided into Periods. Periods are divided into Epochs, and Epochs are further divided into Ages. In the table below, you can see the divisions of the timeline, the ranges of each section, and a brief definition of the name. Click on a cell in the table to search for dinosaurs from that time.
| Period | Epoch | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Cretaceous 145 - 66 MYA From Greek for "chalk", as that's when chalk was formed |
Late Cretaceous |
Maastrichtian 72.1 - 66 MYA For the Dutch city of Maastricht, around which fossils from the time were discovered |
| Campanian 83.6 - 72.1 MYA For the French town of Champagne, around which formations from the time were discovered | ||
| Santonian 86.3 - 83.6 MYA For the French town of Sainte, where the original type locality is | ||
| Coniacian 89.8 - 86.3 MYA For the French city of Cognac | ||
| Turonian 93.9 - 89.8 MYA For the French city of Tours, where the type locality is | ||
| Cenomanian 100.5 - 93.9 MYA For the French city of Le Mans (New Latin) | ||
Early Cretaceous |
Albian 113 - 100.5 MYA For the Latinised name of the River Aube in France |
|
| Aptian 125 - 113 MYA For the French city of Apt, where the type locality is | ||
| Barremian 129.4 - 125 MYA For the French city of Barrême, where the type locality is | ||
| Hauterivian 132.9 - 129.4 MYA For the Swiss town of Hauterive | ||
| Valanginian 139.8 - 132.9 MYA For the Swiss town of Valangin | ||
| Berriasian 145 - 139.8 MYA For the French town of Berrias | ||
| Jurassic 201.3 - 145 MYA Named after the Jura Mountains along the French-Swiss border, where limestone from the period was first discovered |
Late Jurassic |
Tithonian 152.1 - 145 MYA From Tithonus of Greek mythology, who fell in love with Eos, the goddess of dawn, as this age leads to the dawn of the Cretaceous |
| Kimmeridgian 157.3 - 152.1 MYA For the village of Kimmerage in England, where the type locality is | ||
| Oxfordian 163.5 - 157.3 MYA For the English city of Oxford | ||
Middle Jurassic |
Callovian 166.1 - 163.5 MYA The Latinised name of the English hamlet of Kellaways Bridge |
|
| Bathonian 168.3 - 166.1 MYA For the English town of Bath, where the type locality is | ||
| Bajocian 170.3 - 168.3 MYA For the Latinised name of the French town of Bayeux | ||
| Aalenian 174.1 - 170.3 MYA For the German town of Aalen | ||
Early Jurassic |
Toarcian 182.7 - 174.1 MYA For the French city of Thouras |
|
| Pliensbachian 190.8 - 182.7 MYA For the German hamlet of Pliensbach | ||
| Sinemurian 199.3 - 190.8 MYA For the French town of Semur-en-Auxois | ||
| Hettangian 201.3 - 199.3 MYA For the French town of Hettange-Grande | ||
| Triassic 251.9 - 201.3 MYA For the three distinct rock layers (called the Trias) in Europe from the time |
Late Triassic |
Rhaetian 208.5 - 201.3 MYA For the Rhaetian Alps, across Switzerland, Italy, and Austria |
| Norian 227 - 208.5 MYA For the Noric Alps in Austria | ||
| Carnian 237 - 227 MYA For either the Carnic Alps, or Carinthia region of Austria | ||
Middle Triassic |
Ladinian 242 - 237 MYA For the Ladin people of the Dolomites in the Italian Alps |
|
| Anisian 247.2 - 242 MYA The Latinised name of the Enns River in Austria | ||
Early Triassic |
Olenekian 251.2 - 247.2 MYA For the Russian Olenyok River |
|
| Induan 251.9 - 251.2 MYA For the Indus region of India and Pakistan |