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Paleozoic
Era: 542-251 Million Years Ago
The
Paleozoic Era is the earliest geologic era of the Phanerozoic
Eon and extends from 542 to 251 million years ago. Paleozoic
or Palaeozoic is derived from the Greek terms for ancient,
paleo and animal zo (Borror, 1988, pp.
69 & 111). The Paleozoic Era is divided into six periods
including the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous
and Permian. The start of the Paleozoic Era saw the appearance
of almost all animal phyla. The 300 plus million years of
the Paleozoic is characterized by the appearance and evolution
of marine and land invertebrates, fishes, land plants and
reptiles. Much of the coal and limestone that we mine today
was formed in the ancient seas and swamps of this geologic
era. The end of the Paleozoic Era is defined by the largest
known mass extinction. Explore the periods of the Paleozoic
by clicking on the pictures below or by using our drop down
menu. |
Permian Period
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Carboniferous
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Devonian
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Silurian
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Ordovician
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Cambrian
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Bibliography
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Borror,
D.J. (1988). Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining
Forms. California: Mayfield Publishing Company. |
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