When Sharks Swam the Great Plains
PBS Eons・2 minutes read
The Western Interior Seaway existed from 95 to 68 million years ago, hosting various predators like sharks, mosasaurs, and plesiosaurs with niche partitioning to reduce competition. Evidence of interactions between predators, fossilized stomach contents, and fossil-bearing limestones in the Great Plains serve as reminders of this ancient sea.
Insights
- The Western Interior Seaway, existing 95 to 68 million years ago, divided North America into Appalachia and Laramidia, showcasing a diverse ecosystem of predators like sharks, mosasaurs, and plesiosaurs.
- Niche partitioning among predators in the Western Interior Seaway led to the evolution of different hunting methods, diets, and habitats, reducing competition and allowing for coexistence over millions of years.
Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free
Recent questions
What creatures lived in the Western Interior Seaway?
Predators like sharks, mosasaurs, and plesiosaurs.