Late Jurassic

Geologic Age

• 163.5–145.0 million years ago

Subdivisions

• Tithonian: 152.1–145.0 Ma

• Kimmeridgian: 157.3–152.1 Ma

• Oxfordian: 163.5–157.3 Ma

Eon / Era / Period / Epoch

• Phanerozoic; Mesozoic; Jurassic

What happened during this time?

• High sea levels broke supercontinent into a series of large islands, causing regional differences and faunal as well as floral provinces.

• Pangaea broke up into two supercontinents, Laurasia to the north, and Gondwana to the south. 

  • The result of this break-up was the spawning of the Atlantic Ocean. which was relatively narrow.

• Sea level was high, though not so high as during the Upper Cretaceous. The Laurasian landmass was broken up by the rising sea into large islands.

• The rocks were carbonate limestones and clays. 

• The epoch included the famous Solnhofen limestone lagerstätte