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The Quaternary Period is a geologic time period that encompasses the most recent 2.6 million years — including the present day. Part of the Cenozoic Era, the period is usually divided into two epochs — the Pleistocene Epoch, which lasted from approximately 2 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago, and the Holocene Epoch, which began about 12,000 years ago

five-ton animal the size of a car, with a giant bony frill on its head, and you've got a fairly accurate picture of a ceratopsian dinosaur such as Triceratops.

are found only in the Late Cretaceous of North America; they are among the last of the dinosaurs (other than the birds of course).

Ceratopsians were ornithischians, or "bird-hipped" dinosaurs.

presented in the collection: Cretaceous reptiles, including an impressive dinosaur co

collection

Our Fossil Plant Collection is a small but important representation of Canadian flora, particularly from the Cretaceous and Neogene (during what was formerly known as the Tertiary).

The Triassic Period was the first period of the Mesozoic Era and occurred between 251 million and 199 million years ago

Climate was generally very dry over much of Pangaea with very hot summers and cold winters in the continental interior.

The climate of the Triassic era was influenced by Pangaea, its centralized position stradling the equator, and the geologic activity associated with its breakup. Generally speaking, the continents were of high elevation compared to sea level, and the sea level did not change drastically during the period. Due to the low sea level, flooding of the continents to form shallow seas did not occur. Much of the inland area was isolated from the cooling and moist effects of the ocean. The result was a globally arid and dry climate, though regions near the coast most likely experienced seasonal monsoons. There were no polar ice caps, and the temperature gradient in the north-south direction is assumed to have been more gradual than present day. The sea level rose as the rift grew between North Africa and southern Europe, resulting in the flooding of Central and South Europe; the climates of terrestrial Europe were hot and dry, as in the Permian. Overall, it appears that the climate included both arid dune environments and moist river and lake habitats with gymnosperm forests.

rming on the Americas, North Africa was being split from Europe by the spreading rift. This division of the continents advanced further westward, eventually splitting eastern North America from North Africa.