when was the mesozoic era

The Mesozoic Era lasted from about 252 million years ago to 66 million years ago. It is divided into three periods: the Triassic (252 to 201 million years ago), the Jurassic (201 to 145 million years ago), and the Cretaceous (145 to 66 million years ago). This era is known as the "Age of Reptiles," particularly for the dominance of dinosaurs, and it ended with a major mass extinction event that included the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.