Species Link Journal - Winter 2016 Issue 97

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When the idea of talking to ancient creatures such as dinosaurs occurred to me, I wondered if maybe I was losing touch with reality. Not so, according to many of you astute communicators. We asked you about these most ancient beings who roamed our planet millions of years ago, and your communications were fascinating and enlightening. Dinosaurs first appeared during the Triassic Period, about 231.4 million years ago, and ruled the lands for 135 million years (from the start of the Jurassic Period until the end of the Cretaceous Period). Amazingly, many relatives of the mighty creatures still survive today. Some have evolved to live in our current climate, and a few have remained unchanged. A small sample of these include the crocodile, sharks, echidnas (spiny anteater), lancet fish, caiman, bees, lampreys, the duck-billed platypus, sawfish, sea stars, and birds,who share the same skeletal from as dinosaurs. Our understanding of this magnificent world continues to expand and increases our appreciation of the diversity of life on planet Earth.