251 MA MESOZOIC251 ERA (163 M) (251-67 MA)

TRIASSIC251 PERIOD (50 M) (251-180 MA)

LOWER TRIASSIC251 EPOCH (5.10 M) (251-245.9 MA)

STAGE 1 - LOWER TRIASSIC251 (1.5 M) (251-249.5 MA)

Permian-Triassic Extinction Event (P-T) - 96% marine species and 70% terrestial vertebrates extinct

250 MA Lystrosaurus reptile - South Africa, India, Antarctica - supports continental drift - survived P-T event

249.5 MA STAGE 2 - LOWER TRIASSIC249.5 (3.6 M) (249.5-245.9 MA)

245.9 MA MIDDLE TRIASSIC245.9 EPOCH (17.2 M)(245.9-228.7 MA)

STAGE 3 - MIDDLE TRIASSIC245.9 (8.9 M) (245.9-237 MA)

237 MA STAGE 4 - MIDDLE TRIASSIC237 (8.3 M) (237-228.7 MA)

230 MA Beginning of major continental drifting

World wide red beds

Forests of conifers and cycads

Age of Reptiles begins

Mammals first appear

228.7 MA UPPER TRIASSIC228.7 EPOCH (29.10 M)(228.7-199.6 MA)

CARNIAN228.7 STAGE (12.20 M) (228.7-216.5 MA)

220 MA Acanthuses branch of sharks (freshwater mostly) becomes extinct after achieving worldwide distribution

216.5 MA NORIAN216.5 STAGE (12.9 M) ( 216.5-203.6 MA)

203.6 MA RHAETIAN203.6 STAGE (4 M) (203.6-199.6 MA)

200 MA Gondwana Supercontinent breaks up - after 300 M years of cohesion