The Sudden Rise of the First Colossal Animal
PBS Eons・8 minutes read
250 million years ago, small terrestrial reptiles transitioned to the oceans, evolving into the giant ichthyosaur Cymbospondylus youngorum in a few million years due to a global ecological catastrophe, the Great Dying. Following the event, post-apocalyptic oceans allowed ichthyosaurs to rapidly evolve and thrive, exhibiting exceptional growth within a short span of 3 million years before facing extinction by the Late Cretaceous.
Insights
- Small terrestrial reptiles transitioned to the oceans around 250 million years ago, evolving rapidly into giant ichthyosaurs like Cymbospondylus youngorum within a few million years, marking the start of an era of ocean giants.
- The rise and evolution of giant ichthyosaurs were catalyzed by the global ecological catastrophe known as the Great Dying, which created post-apocalyptic oceans that allowed ichthyosaurs to thrive due to abundant prey, showcasing exceptional growth within a short span of 3 million years before facing extinction during the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event.
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Summary
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Evolution of Giant Ichthyosaurs: A Rapid Rise
- Around 250 million years ago, small terrestrial reptiles transitioned to the oceans, becoming the earliest ichthyosaurs, starting small but evolving rapidly.
- The giant ichthyosaur Cymbospondylus youngorum emerged within a few million years, marking the beginning of an era of ocean giants.
- The rise of giant ichthyosaurs was triggered by a global ecological catastrophe, the Great Dying, which wiped out a significant portion of species.
- The post-apocalyptic oceans following the Great Dying allowed ichthyosaurs to thrive due to the abundance of prey like ammonoids and conodonts.
- The rapid evolution of giant ichthyosaurs, exemplified by Cymbospondylus youngorum, occurred within a short span of 3 million years, showcasing exceptional growth.
- Unlike whales, which gradually increased in size over 50 million years, ichthyosaurs experienced a sudden burst towards large body sizes.
- The giant ichthyosaurs, while dominating the oceans for a period, faced extinction during the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event, leading to their eventual disappearance by the Late Cretaceous.
