Re: Abelisaur & Titanosaur migratory routes

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-01-23 12:53:30 EST, swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM (Stan
Friesen) writes:

>From: Dinogeorge@aol.com
> > 
> > In a message dated 96-01-23 01:04:33 EST, dino@revelation.unomaha.edu
>(John
> > Schneiderman) writes:
> > 
> > >1) When did Africa & South America become completely seperated?
> > 
> > Best guess is Early to mid-Cretaceous
>
>I believe it was rather earlier than that.  It probably began
>in the mid-Jurassic, and was nearly complete by the end of the
>Jurassic.
>
>swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com             sarima@netcom.com

I checked and you're right. The basic rift between Gondwana and Laurasia is
now dated as Late Triassic (new one on me; I thought it was Early to Middle
Jurassic), then East Gondwana (India-Madagascar-Antarctica-Australia) parts
from West Gondwana (South America-Africa) during the Middle to Late Jurassic.
The central Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico open, rifting South America from
Africa, at about the same time, just as you say. India-Madagascar parts from
Australia-Antarctica in the Early Cretaceous. India and Madagascar separate,
as do Australia and Antarctica, during the Late Cretaceous.

What a trip.