When did the Paleozoic Era begin and end?
The Paleozoic Era began 538.8 million years ago and ended 251.9 million years ago. This timeframe marks the start of the Phanerozoic Eon and concludes with the Permian-Triassic extinction event.
Common questions about Paleozoic
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who named the Paleozoic Era and when was the name first used?
Adam Sedgwick first used the name Paleozoic in 1838 to describe the Cambrian and Ordovician periods. John Phillips later redefined the term in 1840 to include all periods from Cambrian to Permian.
What defines the boundary between the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic Eons?
The boundary is defined by the first appearance of trace fossils specifically the Treptichnus pedum assemblage. This Global Stratotype Section and Point is located at Fortune Head in Newfoundland.
Which period of the Paleozoic Era is known as the Cambrian explosion?
The Cambrian Period spans from 539 to 485 million years ago and marks the most rapid diversification of life in Earth's history. Most modern animal phyla first appeared during this time including arthropods molluscs and early fish.
What major geological event ended the Paleozoic Era?
The era ended 251.9 million years ago with the Permian-Triassic extinction event which was the largest mass extinction in Earth's history. This event wiped out 95% of all life on Earth and took millions of years for life to recover.