The Paleozoic Era

The Paleozoic Era lasted from about 541 to 252 million years ago. Its name means "ancient life." This is when life really took off! During this era, fish, insects, amphibians, and reptiles all appeared for the first time.

The Cambrian Explosion

The Paleozoic Era started with a bang called the Cambrian Explosion. In just a few million years, many new types of animals appeared. Trilobites filled the oceans. Fish with backbones evolved. The first plants and animals moved onto land. Insects were some of the first land animals.

Moving to Land

During the Paleozoic, life moved from the oceans to the land. The first forests grew. Giant insects buzzed through the air. Some dragonflies had wingspans of over 2 feet! The first amphibians and reptiles appeared. The era ended with the biggest mass extinction ever, killing 90 percent of all species.

Fun Facts

• During the Paleozoic, some dragonflies had wingspans over 2 feet wide!
• The Paleozoic ended with the worst mass extinction in history, killing 90% of species.
• The first forests appeared during this era, about 385 million years ago.

Did You Know?

At the end of the Paleozoic Era, all the continents were joined together in one giant supercontinent called Pangaea. It looked like one huge island surrounded by one giant ocean!