Seika Era (生華代, Seikadai)
The Seika Era — literally the “Era of Blossoming” — marks one of the most vital transitions in Erthas’ paleobiological history. In this age, not only do continents reach near-modern distribution in form and separation, but entirely new branches of life begin to flourish. Elven natural philosophers named this period Seikadai for the sudden appearance and diversification of flowering plants and the quiet rise of mammalian lineages destined to dominate later epochs.
Continental Overview & Notable Families
Archaeo-Ingai (Thadh, Kiin)
Climate: Polar- Plant Families: Pinaceae (needle-leaved conifers adapted to cold), Cupressaceae (evergreens thriving in poor soils), Ginkgoaceae (deciduous trees tolerant of frost)
- Animal Families: Morganucodontidae (small nocturnal mammaliaformes), Tritheledontidae (burrowing, insectivorous cynodonts), Capitosauridae (large amphibians clinging to isolated warm springs)
Archaeo-Shinyuu (Shinyū)
Climate: Temperate- Plant Families: Podocarpaceae (conifers favoring cool uplands), Ginkgoaceae (widely distributed forest trees), Osmundaceae (moisture-loving ferns)
- Animal Families: Tritylodontidae (herbivorous mammaliaforms with complex teeth), Protosuchidae (early croc-line carnivores), Rhynchocephalia (lizard-like diapsids with acrodont teeth)
Archaeo-Konchuu (Konchū)
Climate: Subtropical- Plant Families: Zamiaceae (palm-like cycads), Polypodiaceae (epiphytic and ground ferns), early Magnoliaceae (aromatic flowering plants with large petals)
- Animal Families: Chiniquodontidae (nimble, predatory cynodonts), Ornithosuchidae (early archosaurs with semi-erect posture), Curculionidae (beetles with hardened snouts), Araneidae (orb-weaving spiders)
Archaeo-Bomi (Bōkō, Teishin, Gohyō, Teigō)
Climate: Tropical (Teishin, Gohyō), Subtropical (Bōkō, Teigō)- Plant Families: Magnoliaceae (broad-leaved early angiosperms), Lauraceae (spice trees and laurels), Zamiaceae (forest canopy cycads), Marattiaceae (tall, primitive ferns)
- Animal Families: Docodontidae (mammaliaformes with grinding molars), Morganucodontidae (generalist insectivores), Euparkeriidae (nimble archosauriforms), Rhynchocephalia (forest floor and canopy dwellers)
Archaeo-Chuuin (Chūin)
Climate: Boreal- Plant Families: Pinaceae (dominant coniferous trees), Cupressaceae (spreading through upland ridges), Ginkgoaceae (deciduous forest giants)
- Animal Families: Tritheledontidae (furred burrowers), Amphibamidae (small, aquatic amphibians), Erythrosuchidae (relict predatory archosaurs)
Archaeo-Tousai (Tousai, Shinchū)
Climate: Subtropical to Temperate- Plant Families: Podocarpaceae (cold-tolerant conifers), Magnoliaceae (flowering shrubs and trees), Osmundaceae (streamside ferns)
- Animal Families: Tritylodontidae (generalist grazers), Coelophysidae (slender bipedal dinosaurs), early multituberculates (rodent-like mammals with complex cheek teeth)
Archaeo-Shinbou (Shinbō)
Climate: Temperate- Plant Families: Ginkgoaceae (common forest component), Podocarpaceae (hardy gymnosperms), early angiosperms (flowering plants in riparian zones)
- Animal Families: Docodontidae (insectivorous mammaliaforms), early mammals (likely nocturnal), Protosuchidae (semi-aquatic predators)
Archaeo-Saizai (Jinchū, Jinshi)
Climate: Temperate (Jinchū), Subtropical (Jinshi)- Plant Families: Magnoliaceae (early flowering forests), Zamiaceae (cycad groves), Podocarpaceae (conifers on high ground)
- Animal Families: Morganucodontidae (tiny, agile mammals), Chiniquodontidae (arboreal cynodonts), Sauropodomorph families (large-bodied herbivorous dinosaurs)
Archaeo-Shinkyou (Shinshi, Kyōshi)
Climate: Tropical- Plant Families: Lauraceae (dense canopy trees), Magnoliaceae (pioneer flowering species), Cycadaceae (shade-tolerant gymnosperms), Gleicheniaceae (climbing ferns)
- Animal Families: Chiniquodontidae (nimble predators), Salticidae-like spiders (jumping hunters), Procolophonidae (beaked, burrowing reptiles)
Archaeo-Lomba (Lomba)
Climate: Boreal- Plant Families: Pinaceae (coniferous woodlands), Cupressaceae (cold-tolerant evergreens)
- Animal Families: Tritheledontidae (winter-dormant mammals), early insectivorous mammals (nocturnal foragers)
Archaeo-Ndali (Ndali)
Climate: Temperate- Plant Families: Podocarpaceae (dominant conifers), Ginkgoaceae (mixed woodland trees)
- Animal Families: Docodontidae (insectivores), Protosuchidae (marsh ambush predators), early multituberculates (burrowers with grinding teeth)
Archaeo-Zhamo (Zhamo)
Climate: Temperate- Plant Families: Ginkgoaceae (hardy broad-leaved trees), Cupressaceae (widespread conifers), Podocarpaceae (deep rooters)
- Animal Families: Rhytidosteidae (stream-dwelling amphibians), Morganucodontidae (tiny nocturnal insectivores), Erythrosuchidae (slowly vanishing apex carnivores)
Archaeo-Boshi (Boshi)
Climate: Tropical- Plant Families: Magnoliaceae (early tropical flowering trees), Cycadaceae (palm-like cycads), Polypodiaceae (thick jungle ferns)
- Animal Families: Docodontidae (forest foragers), Chiniquodontidae (predators of canopy and floor), Coelophysidae (slender theropods)
Archaeo-Chishu (Chishu)
Climate: Polar- Plant Families: Cupressaceae (surviving in thermal microclimates), Ginkgoaceae (deciduous survivors)
- Animal Families: Tritheledontidae (furred burrowers), Capitosauridae (relict amphibians), Rhynchocephalia (slow-reproducing lizard-like reptiles)
Archaeo-Heiyū (Heiyū)
Climate: Boreal- Plant Families: Ginkgoaceae (relics of warmer epochs), Podocarpaceae (cold-hardy conifers)
- Animal Families: Procolophonidae (browsers with beak-like jaws), Amphibamidae (streamside carnivores), early monotremes (egg-laying mammals with electroreception)
Archaeo-Teigai (Teigai)
Climate: Temperate- Plant Families: Podocarpaceae (mountain conifers), early Nymphaeaceae (proto-water lilies in ponds and lakes)
- Animal Families: Tritylodontidae (open grassland grazers), Rhynchocephalia (arboreal and terrestrial forms), Formicidae-like insects (primitive eusociality in colonies)
Archaeo-Kouchuu (Kōbō, Chichū)
Climate: Subtropical (Kōbō), Tropical (Chichū)- Plant Families: Lauraceae (thick canopy species), Magnoliaceae (rapidly spreading angiosperms), Gleicheniaceae (climbers in high humidity)
- Animal Families: Euparkeriidae (small predator lineages), Araneidae (orb-web spiders), Rhynchocephalia (ecological generalists)
Chishi (Chishi)
Climate: Subtropical- Plant Families: Ginkgoaceae (dominant broadleaf trees), Zamiaceae (canopy gymnosperms)
- Animal Families: Tritheledontidae (insectivores), early mammals (incipient endothermy)
Boshu (Boshu)
Climate: Tropical- Plant Families: Magnoliaceae (flowering trees), Polypodiaceae (thick fern cover)
- Animal Families: Docodontidae (nocturnal foragers), Ornithosuchidae (late-stage archosaurs)
Shinshin (Shinshin)
Climate: Subtropical- Plant Families: Zamiaceae (palm-like gymnosperms), Polypodiaceae (epiphytic ferns)
- Animal Families: Chiniquodontidae (arboreal predators), early archosaurs (fast land-dwelling forms)
Kyougai (Kyougai)
Climate: Subtropical- Plant Families: Zamiaceae (endemic cycads), Ginkgoaceae (coastal groves)
- Animal Families: Tritheledontidae (furred nocturnals), endemic archosauriforms (island-adapted predators)