When was the Triassic period?

About 145 to 66 million years ago

What came just before the Triassic?

The Great Dying mass extinction

Which Argentine site has some of the oldest dinosaurs?

Ischigualasto (Valley of the Moon)

Why is it called the Triassic?

Its rocks in Germany form three layers

Which reptiles rivaled early dinosaurs in the Triassic?

Pseudosuchians related to crocodiles

Triassic Period Quiz: Places, People and Key Facts

The Triassic began after the Great Dying, when about 90% of marine species vanished, and this triassic period quiz explores the world that recovered. Visit Argentina's Valley of the Moon, where some of the oldest dinosaurs were found, the supercontinent Pangaea and New Mexico's Ghost Ranch.

Start Triassic Period Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Dates
When was the Triassic period?
Dying
What came just before the Triassic?
Pangaea
What was Earth's landmass like in the Triassic?
First
When did the first dinosaurs appear?
Argentina
Which Argentine site has some of the oldest dinosaurs?
Ghost Ranch
Which small dinosaur is famous from Ghost Ranch, New Mexico?
Name
Why is it called the Triassic?
Rivals
Which reptiles rivaled early dinosaurs in the Triassic?
Mammals
Did the first mammals appear in the Triassic?
End
How did the Triassic end?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: When was the Triassic period?
Answer: About 252 to 201 million years ago
It opened the Mesozoic era.
Q2: What came just before the Triassic?
Answer: The Great Dying mass extinction
It was Earth's worst extinction.
Q3: What was Earth's landmass like in the Triassic?
Answer: One supercontinent, Pangaea
Its interior was hot and dry.
Q4: When did the first dinosaurs appear?
Answer: In the Triassic
Around 230 million years ago.
Q5: Which Argentine site has some of the oldest dinosaurs?
Answer: Ischigualasto (Valley of the Moon)
Eoraptor and Herrerasaurus came from there.
Q6: Which small dinosaur is famous from Ghost Ranch, New Mexico?
Answer: Coelophysis
Hundreds were found together.
Q7: Why is it called the Triassic?
Answer: Its rocks in Germany form three layers
Friedrich von Alberti named it.
Q8: Which reptiles rivaled early dinosaurs in the Triassic?
Answer: Pseudosuchians related to crocodiles
Some were large predators.
Q9: Did the first mammals appear in the Triassic?
Answer: Yes
They were small and nocturnal.
Q10: How did the Triassic end?
Answer: With another mass extinction
Volcanic eruptions as the Atlantic opened are a leading cause.

Triassic Period Quiz – Dawn of the Dinosaurs

The Triassic period lasted from about 252 to 201 million years ago. It began after the Great Dying, the worst mass extinction in Earth's history, which wiped out most marine species and many land animals.

During the Triassic, all land formed one supercontinent, Pangaea, with a hot, dry interior. Life recovered and diversified. The first dinosaurs appeared around 230 million years ago, including Eoraptor and Herrerasaurus from Argentina's Ischigualasto, known as the Valley of the Moon.

Early dinosaurs shared the land with crocodile relatives, early mammals and the first pterosaurs. Coelophysis fossils from Ghost Ranch in New Mexico show small, fast predators. Another mass extinction ended the Triassic, helping dinosaurs dominate the Jurassic.

What This Quiz Teaches

Dinosaur fans and students will enjoy these questions.

When the Triassic was
What came before it
What Pangaea was
Where early dinosaurs lived
How it ended

Did You Know?

The Triassic was named in 1834.
Ichthyosaurs appeared in the Triassic.
Coelophysis went to space as a fossil.
Triassic deserts were vast.
Turtles appeared in the Triassic.