Demise of the dinosaurs

The close of the Cretacious saw the demise of the Mesozoic reptilian megafauna (see the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event). Of the large marine reptiles, only the sea turtles are left, and of the dinosaurs, only the small feathered theropods survived in the form of birds. The major surviving reptilian line is the lepidosaurs, of which the snakes are currently the most numerous and widespread representatives. The end of the "Age of Reptiles", opened up for the "Age of Mammals". Despite this, reptiles are still a major fauna component, particularly in tropical climates. There are about 8200 extant species of reptiles (whereof almost half are snakes), compared to 5400 species of mammals (of which 2/3 are rodents and bats). The most numerous modern group with reptilian roots are the birds, with over 9000 species.