<P> The Triassic ranges from 250 million to 200 million years ago . The Triassic is a desolate transitional time in Earth's history between the Permian Extinction and the lush Jurassic Period . It has three major epochs: Early Triassic, Middle Triassic and Late Triassic . </P> <P> The Early Triassic lasted between 250 million to 247 million years ago, and was dominated by deserts as Pangaea had not yet broken up, thus the interior was arid . The Earth had just witnessed a massive die - off in which 95% of all life became extinct . The most common life on Earth were Lystrosaurus, labyrinthodonts, and Euparkeria along with many other creatures that managed to survive the Great Dying . Temnospondyli evolved during this time and would be the dominant predator for much of the Triassic . </P> <P> The Middle Triassic spans from 247 million to 237 million years ago . The Middle Triassic featured the beginnings of the breakup of Pangaea, and the beginning of the Tethys Sea . The ecosystem had recovered from the devastation of the Great Dying . Phytoplankton, coral, and crustaceans all had recovered, and the reptiles began increasing in size . New aquatic reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs and nothosaurs, evolved . Meanwhile, on land, pine forests flourished, as well as mosquitoes and fruit flies . The first ancient crocodilians evolved, which sparked competition with the large amphibians that had long ruled the freshwater world . </P> <P> The Late Triassic spans from 237 million to 200 million years ago . Following the bloom of the Middle Triassic, the Late Triassic featured frequent rises of temperature, as well as moderate precipitation (10 - 20 inches per year). The recent warming led to a boom of reptilian evolution on land as the first true dinosaurs evolved, as well as pterosaurs . The climactic change, however, resulted in a large die - out known as the Triassic - Jurassic extinction event, in which all archosaurs (excluding ancient crocodiles), synapsids, and almost all large amphibians became extinct, as well as 34% of marine life in the fourth mass extinction event . The extinction's cause is debated . </P>

What is the name of a phanerozoic era that means ancient life