The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 199.6 Mya (million years ago) to 145.5± 4 Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic Era, also known as the Age of Reptiles. The start of the period is marked by the major Triassic–Jurassic extinction event. However, the end of the Jurassic Period did not witness any major extinction event. The start and end of the period are defined by carefully selected locations; the uncertainty in dating arises from trying to date these horizons.

Ìgbà Jùrásíkì
Ìgbà Jùrásíkì
199.6–145.5 ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún ọdun sẹ́yìn
Mean atmospheric O2 content over period duration ca. 26 Vol %[1]
(130 % of modern level)
Mean atmospheric CO2 content over period duration ca. 1950 ppm[2]
(7 times pre-industrial level)
Mean surface temperature over period duration ca. 16.5 °C[3]
(3 °C above modern level)
Key events in the Jurassic
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-200 —
-195 —
-190 —
-185 —
-180 —
-175 —
-170 —
-165 —
-160 —
-155 —
-150 —
-145 —
An approximate timescale of key Jurassic events.
Axis scale: millions of years ago.

The chronostratigraphic term "Jurassic" is directly linked to the Swiss Jura Mountains. Alexander von Humboldt (*1769, † 1859) recognized the mainly limestone dominated mountain range of the Swiss Jura Mountains as a separate formation that was not at the time included in the established stratigraphic system defined by Abraham Gottlob Werner (* 1749, † 1817) and named it “Jurakalk” in 1795.[4][5][6] The name “Jura” is derived from the celtic root “jor” which was Latinised into “juria”, meaning forest (i.e. “Jura” is forest mountains).[4][5][7]


  1. Image:Sauerstoffgehalt-1000mj.svg
  2. Image:Phanerozoic Carbon Dioxide.png
  3. Image:All palaeotemps.png
  4. 4.0 4.1 Hölder, H. 1964. Jura — Handbuch der stratigraphischen Geologie, IV. Enke-Verlag, 603 pp., 158 figs, 43 tabs; Stuttgart
  5. 5.0 5.1 Arkell, W.J. 1956. Jurassic Geology of the World. Oliver & Boyd, 806 pp.; Edinburgh und London.
  6. Pieńkowski, G.; Schudack, M.E.; Bosák, P.; Enay, R.; Feldman-Olszewska, A.; Golonka, J.; Gutowski, J.; Herngreen, G.F.W.; Jordan, P.; Krobicki, M.; Lathuiliere, B.; Leinfelder, R.R.; Michalík, J.; Mönnig, E.; Noe-Nygaard, N.; Pálfy, J.; Pint, A.; Rasser, M.W.; Reisdorf, A.G.; Schmid, D.U.; Schweigert, G.; Surlyk, F.; Wetzel, A. & Theo E. Wong, T.E. 2008. Jurassic. In: McCann, T. (ed.): The Geology of Central Europe. Volume 2: Mesozoic and Cenozoic, Geological Society, pp.: 823-922; London.
  7. Rollier, L. 1903. Das Schweizerische Juragebirge. Sonderabdruck aus dem Geographischen Lexikon der Schweiz, Verlag von Gebr. Attinger, 39 pp; Neuenburg
Jurassic Period
Lower/Early Jurassic Middle Jurassic Upper/Late Jurassic
Hettangian | Sinemurian
Pliensbachian | Toarcian
Aalenian | Bajocian
Bathonian | Callovian
Oxfordian | Kimmeridgian
Tithonian
Preceded by Proterozoic Eon 542 Ma - Phanerozoic Eon - Present
542 Ma - Paleozoic Era - 251 Ma 251 Ma - Mesozoic Era - 65 Ma 65 Ma - Cenozoic Era - Present
Kámbríà Ọ̀rdòfísíà Sílúríà Dẹfoníà Eléèédú Pẹ́rmíà Tríásíkì Jùrásíkì Ẹlẹ́fun Ìbíniàtijọ́ Ìbíniọ̀tun Quaternary