Geologic Ages
Paleozoic Era
Topics covered in this section:
Introduction
About 570 million years ago, life exploded onto the scene. Then near the end of the Paleozoic Era, ending some 250 million years ago, nearly ninety percent of the living organisms suffered a mass extinction.
Paleozoic Era
Cambrian Period
Between 570 million and 500 million years ago, during the Cambrian Period, there was an explosion of multicellular life.
Ordovician Period
During the Ordovician Period, some 500 million to 435 million years ago, ocean vertebrates and primitive life on land appeared.
Silurian Period
In the Silurian Period, 435 million to 410 million years ago, the first insects appeared on a land that saw its first plants.
Devonian Period
The Devonian Period, 410 million to 360 million years ago, was marked by the appearance of creepy crawlers like spiders and mites. Amphibians also made their debut.
Carboniferous Period
Coal began to form 360 million to 290 million years ago, giving the name Carboniferous Period to this timeframe. The first true reptiles appeared.
Permian Period
The Permian Period, 290 million to 250 million years ago, was a deadly period. Some 90 percent of all organisms died out as they fell prey to a mysterious mass extinction. Nearly all life forms were wiped out! Reptiles survived, however, and inherited the earth.
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