1. Common name for the Mesozoic Era, a geological era that lasted from about 252 to 66 million years ago. It is marked by the prevalence and dominance of reptiles, including dinosaurs.
2. 110-foot (34 m) mural depicting the period of the Mesozoic. Completed in 1947, the mural and printed versions of it defined the appearance of dinosaurs for almost 50 years and remains an important paleontologic inspiration for children and adults. The mural is at the Yale Peabody Museum, in New Haven, Connecticut.
