Euramerica Explained

Euramerica (also known as Laurussia – not to be confused with Laurasia, – the Old Red Continent or the Old Red Sandstone Continent) was a minor supercontinent created in the Devonian as the result of a collision between the Laurentian, Baltican, and Avalonian cratons during the Caledonian orogeny, about 410 million years ago. In the Late Carboniferous, tropical rainforests lay over the equator of Euramerica. A major, abrupt change in vegetation occurred when the climate aridified. The forest fragmented and the lycopsids which dominated these wetlands thinned out, being replaced by opportunistic ferns. There was also a great loss of amphibian diversity and simultaneously the drier climate spurred the diversification of reptiles.[1]

Extent

Euramerica became a part of the major supercontinent Pangaea in the Permian. In the Jurassic, when Pangaea rifted into two continents, Gondwana and Laurasia, Euramerica was a part of Laurasia.

In the Eocene, Laurasia split into the continents of North America and Eurasia. The Laurentian craton became a part of North America while Baltica became a part of Eurasia, and Avalonia was split between the two.

Events by period

Pangaea rifted into Gondwana and Laurasia.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Rainforest collapse triggered Pennsylvanian tetrapod diversification in Euramerica . Sahney . Sarda . Benton . Michael J. . Falcon-Lang . Howard J. . 2010 . Geology . 38 . 1079–1082 . PDF . 10.1130/G31182.1 . 12.
  2. . 3. New Frontiers . Discovery Channel . 2006 . National Board of Film (Canada) and NHK (Japan).