Why didn't reptiles re-emerge as the dominant life-form after the extinction of the dinos?
2007-03-13 13:49:41 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Climatic changes due to the break up of the super Continent Pangaea. As the pieces of this once supercontinent separated so did the climate. Reptiles were basically ectothermic and relied on the warmth of the environment to support their life style. As the North America, Europe moved northward the climates changes. This continued up to the end of the Cretaceous The last time we saw the dinosaurs. Today the climates are colder and more inhospitable to reptilian life. That's why they live in the narrow range from the equator out to the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
2007-03-14 04:24:00 · answer #1 · answered by ATP-Man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they will after the next mass extinction. We can't predict what will happen next. It all depends on which life forms have the best survival and reproduction characteristics.
2007-03-13 14:00:28 · answer #2 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was due to the mammals being able to take over the empty niches and being very successful in doing so.
2007-03-13 13:55:03 · answer #3 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋