The Mighty Sauropods
This massive herbivore used its exceptionally long neck to browse the high treetops; its name appropriately means "arm lizard."
Brachiosaurus
Often called the "lion of the Jurassic," this large 35-foot carnivore was the apex predator of the Late Jurassic.
Allosaurus
This iconic herbivore featured a double row of bony plates on its back and dangerous spikes on its tail.
Stegosaurus
Not dinosaurs but close relatives, these flying reptiles were the first vertebrates known to evolve powered flight.
Pterosaurs
The supercontinent began to break up during the Jurassic, splitting into two halves known as Laurasia and this southern supercontinent.
Gondwana
Known for its extremely long tail and whip-like tip, this sauropod stretched up to 87 feet long.
Diplodocus
Easily recognized by the prominent bony crests above its eyes, this theropod's name means "fawn lizard."
Ceratosaurus
Translating to "lizard from Kent," this armored cousin of the Stegosaurus was discovered in Tanzania.
Kentrosaurus
Famous for its sharp, pointed teeth and long neck, this marine reptile is often compared to the Loch Ness Monster.
Plesiosaur
The Jurassic period follows the Triassic and precedes this final period of the dinosaur era.
The Cretaceous Period
The name of this "deceptive lizard" was previously applied to the dinosaur we now commonly refer to as the Brontosaurus.
Apatosaurus
Measuring about 3 feet long, this tiny meat-eater is one of the smallest known dinosaurs and feasted on insects and small lizards.
Compsognathus
This small, early ornithopod was lightly built and relied on speed and agility to escape predators in North America.
Camptosaurus
This famous "missing link" fossil found in Germany is considered one of the earliest known birds.
Archaeopteryx
The Jurassic Period gets its name from a mountain range located between France and Switzerland.
The Jura Mountains
Discovered in China, this specific genus of sauropod featured the longest neck relative to its body size of any known animal.
Mamenchisaurus
This apex hunter found in Portugal was one of the largest land predators of the Jurassic, measuring over 30 feet long.
Torvosaurus
Sporting impressive armor composed of bony plates and long shoulder spikes, this dinosaur is the earliest known armored dinosaur from the Late Jurassic.
Gargoyleosaurus
This extinct marine creature with a spiraled, coiled shell was a dominant and common predator in the oceans.
Ammonite
Stepping into the shoes of the dominant seed plants prior to the Jurassic, these "naked-seed" plants dominated the landscape.
Gymnosperms
Belonging to the macronarian family, this sauropod was the titan of the late Jurassic, often weighing upwards of 80 tons.
Giraffatitan
Discovered in the Morrison Formation, this genus was a large, heavy-built megalosaurid named "the flesh-eating bull."
Marshosaurus
Found in the lower Jurassic formations of China, this early armored dinosaur featured spiked plates running down its back.
Tuojiangosaurus
Similar to modern dolphins, these fast-swimming marine reptiles ruled the Jurassic seas until the Cretaceous Period.
Ichthyosaurs
The Jurassic period was preceded by the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction, which may have been triggered by massive amounts of this activity.
Volcanic Activity