Fifth Grade
Worksheets
Life During the Mesozoic Era
The Mesozoic Era is known as the Age of Reptiles. However, other life forms were also abundant. The oceans were full of marine organisms. Land animals competed for space and food. Insects were also present during the Mesozoic Era. Fossils of flies and mosquitoes have been found. Wasps and bees were also common. The first birds shared the skies with insects during this era.
In the ocean phytoplankton were at the base of the food chain. These are tiny organisms that float near the surface of bodies of water. They use photosynthesis to make their own food. Ammonites were common in the seas. They were related to octopuses and squids. Other swimming predators included ichthyosaurs. They looked like the dolphins we know today. Other reptiles looked like walruses and seals. These life forms ruled the seas during the Mesozoic Era.
On land plant life was abundant during the Mesozoic Era. Plants covered the earth. They included giant mosses and tree ferns. Plants that looked like palm trees grew on the earth. Cone-bearing plants such as pine and cedar were common. Later in the era, oak, maple, and elm trees began to grow. The first flowering plants also appeared.
