What does Prehistoric mean?
Did you know that the word ‘prehistoric’ means any time before people could write and record things? For us, that means a very, very long time ago – hundreds of thousands of years to millions and billions of years ago.
Scientists can tell us all about what life was like long before humans came along. We know lots about prehistoric plants and the creatures, big and small, that used to eat them, so let’s find out more.
The Dinosaur Era
Dinosaurs roamed the earth about 245 and 66 million years ago, in a time known as the ‘Mesozoic’ Era. Scientists have split this era into three different periods:
Triassic Period
Around 250-200 million years ago.
The first dinosaurs lived during the Triassic period, when the Earth was very hot and dry. At that time, all the continents we know today were joined into one supercontinent called Pangea, and reptiles lived in the sea and sky.
Jurassic Period
Around 200-145 million years ago.
After Pangea split up, the Earth got warmer and greener, and dinosaurs, you might already know, like Stegosaurus and Brachiosaurus, roamed the planet. Despite being massive, they ate plants and shared the Earth with the first birds.
Cretaceous Period
Around 145-66 million years ago.
This was the last era, but it has some of the most famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptors. These dinosaurs lived in lush forests and oceans, but at the end of the period, something big hit the Earth...
When and why did dinosaurs go extinct?
It was a giant asteroid from space, and when it crashed into what is now Mexico, it caused enormous destruction. There were massive fires, giant tidal waves, and a thick cloud of dust that blocked out the light from the sun for a very long time. Earth became dark and cold. This is what is known as a
mass extinction event.
The dinosaurs and many other animals couldn't survive because there wasn't enough food or sunlight. Although the dinosaurs were gone, not all life disappeared. Many plants, some animals, and birds survived; over time, they became the animals we know today.
Prehistoric Plants
Speaking of plants, did you know that some species that dinosaurs would have eaten (or stomped on!) are still around today?
Ferns
Ferns are leafy plants with fronds that unfurl like curly ribbons. They don't produce flowers or seeds; instead, they create tiny spores.
Fun fact: Dinosaurs would've walked through forests of ferns, with some towering at over 15 metres tall!
Cycads
Cycads look a bit like mini palm trees with stiff, spiky leaves. Cycads pre-date dinosaurs, but modern varieties are only around 12 million years old.
Fun fact: Cyads are endangered due to climate change.
Conifers
Conifers are trees like pines and firs. They have needles instead of leaves and make cones instead of flowers.
Fun fact: The oldest living tree in the world is a conifer, over 4,800 years old!
Ginkgo Biloba
This tree has fan-shaped leaves and has been around for over 290 million years. It adapts well to change and can now be found in cities.
Fun fact: Ginkgo trees survived the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, and some even survived the Ice Age!
Mosses
Mosses are soft, low-growing plants that like damp places. They grow from spores, not seeds, and have been around for over 450 million years.
Fun fact: Moss can grow almost anywhere, even on rocks and rooftops!
These amazing plants have existed for millions of years and have survived ice, heat, dinosaurs, and even asteroid impacts. They're some of the toughest plants on Earth!
Fantastic Fossils
A fossil is the preserved remains or shape of a plant or animal that lived a very long time ago. Over time, these things were buried in mud and turned into rock, which we can find to learn about the past.
How do plant fossils form?
Plant fossils form when parts of a plant — like leaves, stems, or seeds — get buried quickly by mud, sand, or water. Over time, more layers pile on top, and the pressure turns everything into rock. The plant slowly breaks down, but it leaves behind a shape or imprint in the rock.
What is ‘petrified wood’?
Sometimes, pieces of wood get buried under mud and water, and minerals (like quartz) slowly replace the wood by turning it into stone.
Dino Dinners
While it’s true that some dinosaurs ate animals, most species were herbivores.
What is a herbivore?
A herbivore is an animal that only eats plants. This means they survive on leaves, grass, fruit, and flowers.
Triceratops
On the menu: Low plants like ferns and palms.
Fun fact: It had a big beak and teeth in the back to help chew tough plants.
Brachiosaurus
On the menu: Low-growing plants like ferns, mosses, and cycads.
Fun fact: It had tiny teeth and a big belly to help digest lots of plants.
Stegosaurus
On the menu: Tall trees, like conifers and ginkgoes.
Fun fact: It had a super long neck so it could reach the leaves way up high - like a giraffe!