Paleozoic
Sign in to saveThe Paleozoic ( , , ; or Palaeozoic) Era is the first of three geological eras of the Phanerozoic Eon. Beginning 538.8 million years ago (Ma), it succeeds the Neoproterozoic (the last era of the Proterozoic Eon) and ends 251.9 Ma at the start of the Mesozoic Era. The Paleozoic is subdivided into six geologic periods, (from oldest to youngest) Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian. Some geological timescales divide the Paleozoic informally into early and late sub-eras: the Early Paleozoic consisting of the Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian; the Late Paleozoic consi
AI overview
The Paleozoic Era is the first major division of Earth's most recent 538 million years of history, spanning from about 539 to 252 million years ago and subdivided into six geological periods. It matters because it represents a foundational chapter in the history of complex life on Earth, bridging the time between the emergence of most animal groups and the rise of the age of dinosaurs.
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Key facts
- Geologic timespan.name
- Paleozoic
- Geologic timespan.color
- Paleozoic
- Geologic timespan.top_bar
- Phanerozoic
- Geologic timespan.timeline
- Paleozoic
- Geologic timespan.name_formality
- Formal
- Geologic timespan.alternate_spellings
- Palaeozoic
- Geologic timespan.celestial_body
- earth
- Geologic timespan.usage
- Global (ICS)
- Geologic timespan.timescales_used
- ICS Time Scale
- Geologic timespan.chrono_unit
- Era
- Geologic timespan.strat_unit
- Erathem
- Geologic timespan.lower_boundary_def
- Appearance of the Ichnofossil Treptichnus pedum
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Boundaries
- Geology
- Cambrian Period
- Ordovician Period
- Silurian Period
- Devonian Period
- Carboniferous Period
- Permian Period
- Climate
- Flora
- Fauna
- Microbiota
- See also
- Footnotes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
The Paleozoic ( , , ; or Palaeozoic) Era is the first of three geological eras of the Phanerozoic Eon. Beginning 538.8 million years ago (Ma), it succeeds the Neoproterozoic (the last era of the Proterozoic Eon) and ends 251.9 Ma at the start of the Mesozoic Era. The Paleozoic is subdivided into six geologic periods, (from oldest to youngest) Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian. Some geological timescales divide the Paleozoic informally into early and late sub-eras: the Early Paleozoic consisting of the Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian; the Late Paleozoic consisting of the Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian.
The name Paleozoic was first used by Adam Sedgwick (1785–1873) in 1838 to describe the Cambrian and Ordovician periods. It was redefined by John Phillips (1800–1874) in 1840 to cover the Cambrian to Permian periods. It is derived from the Greek palaiós (παλαιός, "old") and zōḗ (ζωή, "life") meaning "ancient life".