THE JURASSIC PERIOD
from 195 million to
140 million years ago
The Jurassic Period, with its lush rainforests, derives its name from an abundantly fossiliferous sequence of chalky deposits discovered in the Jura Mountains bordering Switzerland and France. For the 55 million year duration of the Jurassic period, the supercontinent of Pangaea was gradually being wrenched into 2 separate masses, Gondwanaland (Africa, South America, Australia, India, Arabia, and Antarctica) and Laurasia (Europe, Asia, Greenland, and North America).
Among the survivors of the Triassic extinction, tiny primitive mammals began to diversify during the Early Jurassic. By the dawning of the Late Jurassic (150 million years ago), the Atlantic Ocean had formed and the drifting continents had barely begun to resemble their present shapes. Gigantic dinosaurs that cared for their young had evolved from their smaller Late Triassic ancestors.
Land bridges between the continents allowed the thriving herds of dinosaurs to migrate across great distances. Palm-like plants appeared and flourished throughout the warm, swampy landscapes of the period, nourishing the largest creatures that ever walked the Earth.
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Superorder Archosauria,
Suborder Pterosauria
Pterodactylus kochi
Late Jurassic, Germany
Throughout the Jurassic, leathery-winged pterodactyls (“Wing Finger”) would have been a common sight gliding on the tropical breezes of the European coastal regions, catching up insects, small fish, and squid in their long, sharply-toothed beaks.
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Pterosaurs belong to the archosaur order, which also includes dinosaurs and crocodiles. The first flying reptiles to be discovered, the raven-sized Pterodactylus, like all pterosaurs, was distinguished by its elongated fourth finger which supported a powerful flight membrane. Their hollow, lightweight bones enabled them to venture significant distances over the shallower waters of the ancient German seas, where a number of the remains have been recovered, exquisitely preserved along with impressions of their furry coats. |
Once presumed to have been limited to gliding from high perches, they are now believed to have been thoroughly agile in flight. They were quite vulnerable to marine predators, judging by the numerous pterosaur bones found in the stomachs of ichthyosaurs. The long, narrow snout of Pterodactylus may have been an adaptation of probing in the sand for burrowing worms. From the lithographic limestone of Solnhofen, Humboldt Museum. |
FACES OF AFRICA:
A Mystical View of
Tribal Heritage
(38 Replica Masks and Sculptures)
On View at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities while providing tourist incentive for the Coachella Valley's hospitality industry.
MoAW is a 501(c)(3)
Tax-Exempt Organization
Member of the California Association of Museums (CAM)
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Next Week:
Do you have a favorite piece at MoAW you would like to see highlighted in our weekly email? You can visit www.moaw.org, see the collections tab, visit the catalogs and state your choice on the link below.
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Help MoAW reopen during the pandemic.
With rising rates of infection, Riverside County moved back to the purple tier. Help MoAW and other Riverside County businesses reopen. The more people who get tested, the better for state-wide statistics.
Riverside County offers free testing at several sites, call Riverside County Health to schedule your test,
1-888-634-1123
Thank You
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Members Perks
So many reasons to join MoAW, you help keep the museum open, allow us to acquire new artifacts, plan and present programs including the Second Friday Fantasy, and help local students learn about ancient civilizations and human origins.
For all that you do to help us we thank you in many ways:
- Unlimited free admission for one year
- Free Guest Passes (see Membership levels for details)
- Invitations to Members-Only exhibition receptions and programs
- Priority registration and discounts on programs and special events
- Special rental rates for hosting events (see membership levels for details)
- Copies of exhibition catalogs (see Membership levels for details)
- Unique travel opportunities through the Museum Travel Alliance
During the initial phase of "The Pause" we offered new members two extra months with membership. While we are back in "The Pause" we are offering this again. Current memberships will be extended by the amount of time we are closed and new members, 14 months of membership will start when we reopen. Click below for more information and to join.
Thank you.
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TUTANKHAMUN:
"Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb
(124 Egyptian replicas)
On view at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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MESOZOICA:
The Age of Dinosaurs
(Approximately 100 fossil cast dinosaur elements and fully-mounted skeletons from around the world.)
On view at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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LUCY:
The Story of Human Origins
(Courtesy of the Institute of Human Origins and the National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa)
On view exclusively at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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