Final answer:
The Late Triassic can be called 'the beginning of the age of dinosaurs'. This period marked the emergence and initial diversification of dinosaurs before they became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates in the subsequent Jurassic Period, which is known as the golden age of dinosaurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Late Triassic can be called the beginning of the age of dinosaurs. The Triassic Period, spanning from 251.9 million years ago (Ma) to the beginning of the Jurassic Period at 201.3 Ma, marked the emergence of the first dinosaurs from reptilian ancestors. This period saw the initial diversification of dinosaurs, but it was not until after the Triassic mass extinction that they became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates. The true golden age of dinosaurs took place in the following Jurassic Period, which witnessed an explosion in their diversity and prevalence.
During the Triassic, the supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart, setting the stage for continental drift and significant environmental changes. The end of the Triassic was marked by massive volcanic activity that played a role in the extinction event that concluded the period. The subsequent Jurassic Period allowed dinosaurs to fill the vacant niches and dominate terrestrial ecosystems, with this period often referred to as the golden age of dinosaurs.