Letter: Dinosaur footage totally unrealistic

Dinosaurs first roamed this planet 200 million to 250 million years ago during what was known as Triassic when all land was joined together as one land mass, and scientists call this Pangaea, which means all earth.

Then came the Jurassic period 145 million to 200 million years ago when Pangaea split into northern and southern land masses and the two continents moved apart. It was then dinosaurs colonised the land from huge plant-eating species to smaller meat-eating ones. Pterosaurs roamed the sky, the first birds appeared, and ichthyosaurs and horseshoe crabs swam in the seas.

Then came the Cretaceous period 65 million to 145 million years ago. During this time the two land masses, Laurasia and Gondwana, broke up into smaller parts which began the formation of the continents that we have today.

Fierce predatory dinosaurs hunted for meat, while plant-eating dinosaurs grew body armour for protection. Crocodiles, turtles and lizards flourished and the first snakes appeared. Dinosaurs were on the planet for 165 million years during a period called the Mesozoic Era. Humans have lived on earth less than two million years.

During the Mesozoic Era the earth's land masses changed dramatically, new seas were formed and plants and animals evolved. Dinosaurs lived in the Mesozoic Era which divided into the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Humans live in the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic Era so, while it would be exciting to have lived during the time dinosaurs ruled the earth as was dramatised on ITV, it is totally unrealistic.

M Eddies, Shrewsbury

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