Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for about 165 to 180 million years. They first appeared during the Triassic period, around 245 to 230 million years ago, and became extinct about 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period
. This entire span corresponds to the Mesozoic Era, which lasted from approximately 252 to 66 million years ago and includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods
. During this time, dinosaurs evolved and dominated terrestrial ecosystems for roughly 150 to 165 million years until their sudden extinction, likely caused by a catastrophic event such as an asteroid impact combined with volcanic activity and climate changes
