A long, long time ago, back in the Carboniferous, one species of little amniotes was split in two. As their paths diverged, one group’s descendants became the sauropsids - such as reptiles, birds, and other dinosaurs - and the other group’s descendants became the synapsids - such as therapsids, cynodonts, and mammals. As the millions of years stretched on, our two clades have shared the same planet and lived alongside each other as each evolved into ever new and fascinating forms.
(in every panel, there’s a sauropsid on the left and a synapsid on the right)
-In the Permian, a Titanophoneus looks up in wonder as a Weigeltisaurus glides overhead.
-In the Triassic, a Coelophysis and a Kataigidodon cautiously share a bite of a large piece of carrion they both found.
-In the Jurassic, a Maiopatagium glides around a feeding Mamenchisaurus, hunting the insects attracted by the huge sauropod.
-In the Cretaceous, a Didelphodon captures a young Bambiraptor.
-In the Paleogene, a Picavus rests for a moment on the head of a Paraceratherium.
-In the Neogene, a Titanis hunts a Cormohipparion.
-In the Quaternary, a human gives her pet cockatiel scritches.
