Context:
Scientists recently said they unearthed in Fujian Province the fossil of a Jurassic Period dinosaur they named Fujianvenator prodigiosus.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Fujianvenator Prodigiosus
- Key Facts About the Jurassic Period
About Fujianvenator Prodigiosus:
- Classification:
- Member of the avialans group, which includes all birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur relatives.
- Survivor:
- Birds, including Fujianvenator, managed to survive the asteroid strike 66 million years ago, which led to the extinction of their non-avian dinosaur counterparts.
- Distinctive Features:
- The lower leg bone (tibia) was twice as long as the thigh bone (femur), a unique trait among theropods.
- Possessed a long bony tail.
- Forelimb structure resembled a bird’s wing but had three claws on the fingers, which are not found in modern birds.
Key Facts About the Jurassic Period:
- Period Classification:
- The Jurassic Period is the second of three periods within the Mesozoic Era.
- Time Period:
- It occurred from approximately 201.3 million to 145 million years ago.
- Chronological Context:
- The Jurassic Period directly followed the Triassic Period (from 251.9 million to 201.3 million years ago).
- It was succeeded by the Cretaceous Period (from 145 million to 66 million years ago).
- Global Changes:
- The Jurassic Period was marked by significant global changes in continental positions, ocean currents, and biological ecosystems.
- Continental Drift:
- During this period, the supercontinent Pangea began to break apart, leading to the eventual formation of the central Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
-Source: The Hindu
