The Early Cretaceous is a geological epoch that lasted from approximately 145 to 100 million years ago. The Early Cretaceous was characterized by warm temperatures and high sea levels. During this time, the supercontinent of Pangea began to break apart and the first flowers appeared on Earth.
Some of the most well-known dinosaurs lived during the Early Cretaceous, including Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Ankylosaurus. This was also the time when birds first appeared. The early bird Archaeopteryx is one of the most famous fossils from this time period. Marine reptiles such as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs were also common during the Early Cretaceous.
As Pangea continued to break apart, new continents formed. South America split off from Africa, and Australia separated from Antarctica. India began its journey northward, eventually colliding with Asia and creating the Himalayas.
The climate of the Early Cretaceous was generally warm and humid. However, there were several periods of cooling during this time known as “hothouse events”. These hothouse events were caused by increased volcanic activity which released greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and led to global warming. Sea levels rose during these times, resulting in flooding and loss of landmass. Despite these periodic disruptions, life flourished during the Early Cretaceous with many new species appearing during this time period.