Wildlife History

Triassic animals - Animals in the Fossil sites, and Biodiversity

Classified animal picture guide. Clicking the Organism name shows the images, and pointing the Organism name shows the tooltip with three links at the left-top corner.
The Triassic is 1st era in Mesozoic spanned from 254 to 200 million years ago. The first dinosaurs and primitive mammals evolving from reptile appeared in the Triassic. A lot of large amphibias and synapsida disappeared. The explanation in brackets is the ages they lived in extinct species. Note that Mya is million years ago. For example, "48.6～40.4 Mya" shows a range between 48.6 and 40.4 million years ago. The italic and bold figures, e.g. 488, show out of the range. The time range is shown in the Geological Time Table. The followings are a part of the Evolutionary Tree.
Triassic, Early Triassic, Middle Triassic, Late Triassic
The right map is the continents at Early Triassic provided by C. R. Scotese PALEOMAP Project.
  • Kingdom Plantae (Plant)
    • Clade Tracheophytes (Vascular plants)
      Vascular plant Lepidodendron   (388.1～203.6 Mya; GDying②③), Calamites   (326.4～171.6 Mya; GDying③④), (Selaginella)   (318.1 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), Pleuromeia   (251～216.5 Mya)
      Fern Caulopteris   (391.9～249.7 Mya; GDying②③), Sphenopteris   (388.1～70.6 Mya; GDying②③④), Annularia   (359.2～245 Mya; GDying③), Equisetites   (359.2～99.6 Mya; GDying③④), (Horsetails)   (359.2 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), Pecopteris   (326.4～11.1 Mya; GDying③④⑤), Neocalamites   (299～155.7 Mya; GDying③④), Cladophlebis   (284～70.6 Mya; GDying③④), Coniopteris   (279.5～99.6 Mya; GDying③④), Todites   (272.5～145.5 Mya; GDying③④), Eboracia   (251～136.4 Mya; GDying④), Gleichenites   (245～70.6 Mya; GDying④), Thaumatopteris   (237～145.5 Mya; GDying④), (Tree ferns)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Marattoid ferns)   (216.5 Mya～; GDying④⑤)
    • Clade Spermatophyte (Seed plants)
      • Phylum Gymnosperms
        Conifer Cordaites   (383.7～228 Mya; GDying②③; ３０m), Araucarioxylon   (359.2～61.7 Mya; GDying③④⑤), Lebachia   (,305～161.2 Mya; GDying③④), Brachyphyllum   (284～70.6 Mya; GDying③④), Podozamites   (279.5～99.6 Mya; GDying③④), Voltzia   (279.5～203.6 Mya; GDying③), Glossopteris   (279.5～145.5 Mya; GDying③④), Pagiophyllum   (260.5～99.6 Mya; GDying③④), Schizolepis   (237～112 Mya; GDying④), (Firs)   (237 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Pines)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), Pityocladus   (216.5～145.5 Mya; GDying④)
        Cycad Cyclopteris   (383.7～183 Mya; GDying②③④), Alethopteris   (359.2～112 Mya; GDying③④), Neuropteris   (349.5～145.5 Mya; GDying③④), Pterophyllum   (302～99.6 Mya; GDying③④⑤), Nilsonia   (268～65.5 Mya; GDying③④), Williamsoniella   (251～145.5 Mya; GDying④), Otozamites   (251～99.6 Mya; GDying④), Williamsonia   (247.2～99.6 Mya; GDying④), Zamites   (245～37.2 Mya; GDying④⑤), Androstrobus   (237～161.2 Mya; GDying④), Sagenopteris   (237～99.6 Mya; GDying④), Cycadeoidea   (237～99.6 Mya; GDying④), Ptilophyllum   (216.5～99.6 Mya; GDying④)
        Ginkgo Trichopitys   (318.1～155.7 Mya; GDying③④), Ginkgoites   (299～99.6 Mya; GDying③④), Sphenobaiera   (299～99.6 Mya; GDying③④), Peltaspermum   (279.5～199.6 Mya; GDying③), Pachypteris   (251～145.5 Mya; GDying④), Umkomasia   (203.6～199.6 Mya)
  • Kingdom Animalia
    • Subkingdom Parazoa
      • Phylum Porifera (Sponge)
        Sponge Chaetetes   (460.5～145.5 Mya; GDying①②③④)
    • Subkingdom Eumetazoa
      • Clade Radiata (Diploblastic - Two germ layers)
        • Phylum Cnidaria (Coral, Jelly fish)
          Coral (Fire corals)   (388.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Margarophyllia (245～203.6 Mya), Distichophyllia (245～199.6 Mya), Thamnasteria   (245～40.4 Mya; GDying④⑤), Montlivaltia   (245～1.81 Mya; GDying④⑤), Crassistella (216.5～199.6 Mya), Chondrocoenia (216.5～183 Mya; GDying④), Thecosmilia   (216.5～89.3 Mya; GDying④)
          Jellyfish Conularia   (468.1～228 Mya; GDying①②③), Paraconularia   (443.7～199.6 Mya; GDying②③), Heterastridium   (268～199.6 Mya; GDying③)
      • Clade Bilateria (Triploblastic - Three germ layers)
        • Clade Protostomia (First mouth)
          • Phylum Arthropoda (Trilobite, Insect, Crustacean)
            Horseshoe
            crab            		 Austrolimulus   (245～228 Mya)
            Insect Mesacridites (245～237 Mya), Eocorona (228～216.5 Mya)
            Dragonfly Italophlebia   (216.5～203.6 Mya)
            Grasshopper Clatrotitan   (245～237 Mya)
            Cockroach Austroblattula (228～216.5 Mya), Triassoblatta (228～216.5 Mya), Samaroblatta (228～216.5 Mya), Pedinoblatta (203.6～199.6 Mya)
            True bug Ipsvicia (228～216.5 Mya), Mesoscytina (228～216.5 Mya), Mesogereon (228～216.5 Mya), Mesojassus (228～216.5 Mya), Mesocixius (228～216.5 Mya), Paradunstania (228～216.5 Mya)
            Beetle Elateridium (245～237 Mya), Ademosyne (245～203.6 Mya)
            Lacewing Archepsychops (228～216.5 Mya), Protopsychopsis (228～216.5 Mya)
            Scorpionfly Mesochorista (228～216.5 Mya)
            Shrimp Litogaster (249.7～245 Mya), Ambilobeia   (249.7～245 Mya), Pemphix (237～228 Mya)
          • Phylum Brachiopoda (Lamp shells)
            Lamp shell (Lingula shells)   (488.3 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), Spiriferina   (422.9～171.6 Mya; GDying②③④)
          • Phylum Mollusca (Limpet, Snail, Slug, Octopus, Squid)
            Gastropoda Maclurites   (488.3～203.6 Mya; GDying①②③), Michelinoceras   (479～203.6 Mya; GDying①②③)
            Limpet (Patella)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Scurria)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Emarginula)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Whitecap limpets)   (203.6 Mya～; GDying④⑤)
            Snail (Pagoda shells)   (460.9 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), (Pleurotomaria)   (428.2 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Cypraecassis)   (391.9 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Natica)   (388.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Turbo)   (388 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Trochus)   (268 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Potamides)   (265 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Chemnitzia)   (260.5 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Phasianella)   (253.8 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Umbonium)   (237 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Siliquaria)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Turret shells)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Fusinus)   (228 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Calliostoma) (216.5 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Aporrhais)   (203.6 Mya～; GDying④⑤)
            Cephalopod Orthoceras   (479～203.6 Mya; GDying①②③)
            Nautilus (Nautilus)   (359.2 Mya～; GDying③④⑤)
            Ammonite Ceratites   (245～216.5 Mya), Asteroceras   (203.6～189.6 Mya; GDying④)
            Bivalve (Nut clams)   (479 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), (Astarte)   (460.9 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), (Ark clams)   (268 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Solemya)   (421.3 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Mytilus)   (418.7 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Pteria)   (418.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Aviculopecten   (409.1～216.5 Mya; GDying②③), (Lucina)   (388.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Cucullaea)   (376.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Pecten)   (349.5 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Pinna)   (349.5 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (File shells)   (312 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Anomia)   (268 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Chlamys)   (265 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Isognomon)   (253.8 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), Monotis (249.7～199.6 Mya), (Aequipecten)   (245 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Atrina)   (245 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Tellina)   (245 Mya～; GDying④⑤), Gryphaea   (228～33.9 Mya; GDying④⑤), Trigonia   (216.5～65 Mya; GDying④)
            Tusk shell (Dentalium)   (422.9 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Fissidentalium)   (359.2 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Antalis)   (345.3 Mya～; GDying③④⑤)
        • Clade Deuterostomia (Second mouth)
          • Phylum Echinoderm (Sea lily, Sea star, Brittle star, Sea urchin, Sea cucumber)
            Sea bud
            Sea lily Pentacrinus   (251～61.7 Mya; GDying④⑤), Pentacrinites   (245～33.9 Mya; GDying④⑤), Balanocrinus   (245～15.97 Mya; GDying④⑤), Encrinus   (245～203.6 Mya)
            Starfish (Ophioderma)   (253.8 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), Aspiduriella (251～199.6 Mya), (Ophiomusium)   (245 Mya～; GDying④⑤), (Ophiura)   (203.6 Mya～; GDying④⑤)
            Sea urchin Miocidaris   (272.5～196.5 Mya; GDying③④), Eodiadema (251～183 Mya), Serpianotiaris (245～228 Mya), Triadotiaris (245～216.5 Mya), Mesodiadema (245～203.6 Mya), (Cidaris)   (245 Mya～; GDying④⑤)
            Sea cucumber Achistrum   (409.1～99.6 Mya; GDying②③④)
          • Phylum Chordata (Vertebrates, Tunicates)
            • Subphylum Vertebrata
              • Superclass Agnatha (Oldest fishes, Hagfish, Lamprey)
              • Infraphylum Gnathostomata (Jawed vertebrates)
                • Class Placodermi (extinct group; 418.1～245 Mya) Armoured fish
                • Class Chondrichthyes (Ray, Shark; 466 Mya～) Cartilaginous fish
                  Cartilaginous fish Listracanthus   (326.4～245 Mya; GDying③)
                  Shark Xenacanthus   (299～203.6 Mya; GDying③), Orthacanthus   (299～65.5 Mya; GDying③④), Hybodus   (268～65.5 Mya; GDying③④), Triodus (228～203.6 Mya)
                • Superclass Osteichthyes (Bony fish)
                  • Class Sarcopterygii (Four-limbed vertebrate, Coelacanth, Lungfish; 422.9 Mya～) Lobe-finned fish
                    Coelacanth Indonesian coelacanth   (410 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Comorese coelacanth   (410 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Coelacanthus   (299～145 Mya; GDying③④), Laugia (251～249.7 Mya), Whiteia (249.7～245 Mya), Alcoveria (242～236 Mya), Diplurus   (228～203.6 Mya), Holophagus   (228～125 Mya; GDying④), Pholidophorus   (203.6～175.6 Mya; GDying④), Chinlea   (216.5～203.6 Mya)
                    Lungfish Ceratodus   (249.7～70.6 Mya; GDying④)
                  • Class Actinopterygii (Most living fishes; 421.3 Mya～) Ray-finned fish
                    Ray-finned fish Saurichthys   (258～164.7 Mya; GDying③④), Lepidotes   (245～70.6 Mya; GDying④), Asialepidotus (237～228 Mya), Caturus   (228～99.6 Mya; Great Dying④), African arowana (228 Mya～; Great Dying⑤), Dapedium   (203.6～189.6 Mya; GDying④)
                  • Class Amphibia
                    Primitive amphibia Aphaneramma   (249.7～245 Mya), Batrachosuchus   (245～237 Mya), Cyclotosaurus   (245～203.6 Mya), Mastodonsaurus   (245～199.6 Mya), Gerrothorax   (237～199.6 Mya; Extremely flat body), Metoposaurus   (228～203.6 Mya)
                    Frog Triadobatrachus   (251～249.7 Mya)
                  • Class Synapsida (Mammal-like reptiles)
                    • Order Pelycosauria (318.1～255 Mya)
                    • Order Therapsida (279.5～183 Mya)
                      Mammal-like reptile Dicynodon   (258～216.5 Mya; GDying③), Thrinaxodon   (255～245 Mya; GDying③), Lystrosaurus   (255～241 Mya; GDying③), Ericiolacerta   (251～249.7 Mya), Galesaurus   (251～249.7 Mya), Cynognathus   (249.7～228 Mya), Sinokannemeyeria   (245～237 Mya)
                      Mammaliaformes Adelobasileus   (228～216.5 Mya; Earliest mammals), Sinoconodon   (203.6～199.6 Mya), Morganucodon   (203.6～189.6 Mya; GDying④)
                  • Class Sauropsida (Non mammal-like reptiles)
                    • Subclass Anapsida (No arch near the temples)
                      Primitive turtle Owenetta   (260.5～245 Mya; GDying③)
                      Turtle Procolophon   (251-245 Mya), Odontochelys   (228-216.5 Mya; Oldest turtles), Leptopleuron (228-203.6 Mya), Hypsognathus   (228-199.6 Mya), Proganochelys   (216.5-203.6 Mya; Oldest turtles)
                    • Subclass Diapsida (Two arches near the temples)
                      Small reptile Longisquama   (230-225 Mya; Long structures of back), Hypuronector   (228～216.5 Mya; Large tail), Drepanosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Megalancosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya)
                      Tuatara Brachyrhinodon   (228～203.6 Mya), Planocephalosaurus   (228～199.6 Mya), Clevosaurus   (228～196.5 Mya; GDying④)
                      Lizard Paliguana   (251～245 Mya; Earliest Lepidosauromorpha), Icarosaurus   (228～216.5 Mya; Winged glider), Kuehneosaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya; Winged glider)
                      Marine reptile Hovasaurus   (251～249.7 Mya), Grippia (251～199.6 Mya), Chaohusaurus   (249.7～245 Mya), Utatsusaurus   (249.7～245 Mya), Cymbospondylus   (249.7～228 Mya), Placodus   (249.7～228 Mya), Hupehsuchus   (249.7～245 Mya), Keichousaurus   (245～237 Mya), Mixosaurus   (245～237 Mya), Ceresiosaurus   (245–237 Mya), Nanchangosaurus   (245～228 Mya), Cyamodus   (245～228 Mya; Back like turtle), Pachypleurosaurus   (245～228 Mya), Serpianosaurus   (245～228 Mya), Pistosaurus   (245～228 Mya), Nothosaurus   (245～216.5 Mya), Anarosaurus (237～228 Mya), Dactylosaurus (237～228 Mya), Askeptosaurus   (237～216.5 Mya), Thalattosaurus   (228～216.5 Mya), Shastasaurus   (228～216.5 Mya), Californosaurus   (228～216.5 Mya), Shonisaurus   (228～203.6 Mya; ２１m), Placochelys   (228～203.6 Mya), Henodus   (228～220 Mya; Back like turtle), Endennasaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Psephoderma   (216.5～199.6 Mya；Back like turtle), Ichthyosaurus   (216.5～112 Mya; GDying④), Plesiosaurus   (203.6～85.8 Mya; GDying④), Rhomaleosaurus (203.6～175.6 Mya; GDying④)
                      • Infraclass Archosauromorpha (Crocodiles, Pterosaurs, Dinosaurs)
                        Archosaurs Chirotherium   (265～189.6 Mya; GDying③④), Kalisuchus (251～245 Mya), Tasmaniosaurus   (251～245 Mya), Proterosuchus   (251～249.7 Mya), Chasmatosuchus   (251～245 Mya), Paleorhinus   (249.7～203.6 Mya), Euparkeria   (245～237 Mya), Shansisuchus   (245～237 Mya), Dinocephalosaurus   (245～237 Mya), Mesosuchus   (245～237 Mya), Rhynchosaurus   (245～237 Mya), Arizonasaurus   (245～237 Mya; Large plates on back), Ticinosuchus   (245～237 Mya), Yarasuchus   (245～237 Mya), Lotosaurus   (245～237 Mya), Bromsgroveia (245～237 Mya), Karamuru (245～228 Mya), Chanaresuchus   (245～228 Mya), Tanystropheus   (245～228 Mya; Long neck), Gracilisuchus   (237～228 Mya; Ancestors of crocodiles), Luperosuchus (237～228 Mya), Batrachotomus   (237～228 Mya), Prestosuchus   (237～216.5 Mya), Sharovipteryx   (242～221.5 Mya; Wing-like glider), Centemodon (228～200 Mya), Ctenosauriscus   (228～200 Mya; Large plates on back), Longosuchus   (228～216.5 Mya), Saurosuchus   (228～216.5 Mya), Sillosuchus   (228～216.5 Mya), Poposaurus   (228～203.6 Mya), Ornithosuchus   (228～203.6 Mya), Malerisaurus   (228～203.6 Mya), Hyperodapedon   (228～203.6 Mya), Scaphonyx   (228～203.6 Mya), Paradapedon   (228～203.6 Mya), Trilophosaurus   (228～203.6 Mya), Rutiodon   (228～203.6 Mya), Angistorhinus (228～203.6 Mya), Desmatosuchus   (228～203.6 Mya; Long spikes on back), Stagonolepis   (228～203.6 Mya), Aetosaurus   (228～203.6 Mya), Belodon   (228～199.6 Mya), Postosuchus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Teratosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Effigia   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Redondasaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Smilosuchus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Nicrosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Shuvosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Saltoposuchus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Mystriosuchus   (216.5～199.6 Mya)
                        Crocodile Dyoplax (228～216.5 Mya), Terrestrisuchus   (203.6～199.6 Mya)
                        • Clade Ornithodira (Pterosaurs, Dinosaurs)
                          Flying reptile Austriadactylus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Peteinosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Preondactylus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Eudimorphodon   (216.5～199.6 Mya)
                          Primitive dino Asilisaurus   (245～237 Mya), Lagosuchus   (245～189.6 Mya; GDying④), Marasuchus   (237～228 Mya; Ancestor of dinos), Lagerpeton   (237～228 Mya), Pseudolagosuchus   (237～228 Mya), Lewisuchus   (237～228 Mya), Spondylosoma (237～216.5 Mya), Eoraptor   (228～216.5 Mya; Earliest dinos), Scleromochlus   (228～203.6 Mya), Silesaurus   (228～203.6 Mya), Teyuwasu   (228～200 Mya), Pisanosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya; Primtive dino), Eocursor   (216.5～199.6 Mya; Primtive dino)
                          Long-necked dino Euskelosaurus   (245～65.5 Mya; GDying④), Saturnalia   (228～216.5 Mya), Panphagia   (228～216.5 Mya), Azendohsaurus   (228～216.5 Mya), Thecodontosaurus   (228～189.6 Mya; GDying④), Guaibasaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Unaysaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Efraasia   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Coloradisaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Isanosaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Antetonitrus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Lessemsaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Eucnemesaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Riojasaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Plateosaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Blikanasaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Melanorosaurus   (216.5～189.6 Mya; GDying④), Camelotia   (203.6～199.6 Mya)
                          Predatory dino Staurikosaurus   (228～216.5 Mya), Herrerasaurus   (228～216.5 Mya), Chindesaurus   (228～203.6 Mya), Alwalkeria   (228～203.6 Mya), Caseosaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Gojirasaurus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Procompsognathus   (216.5～203.6 Mya), Liliensternus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Zupaysaurus   (216.5～199.6 Mya), Coelophysis   (216.5～189.6 Mya; GDying④), Pterospondylus (203.6～199.6 Mya), Halticosaurus   (228～208.5 Mya), Dolichosuchus   (228～208.5 Mya), Protoavis   (216.5～203.6 Mya; Bird's relative)
                  • Class Mammalia
                    Primitive mammal Haramiya (203.6～199.6 Mya)