Paleozoic Era
Fish first began to appear in Earth's fossil record during this period.
What is the Cambrian period?
The Mesozoic Era is specifically known for the first appearance of this species.
What are dinosaurs?
The first early primates began to appear during this time, also known as the ancestors of modern mammals.
What is the Paleogene period?
Any evidence of earlier life which is preserved in rock.
What is a fossil?
The biggest extinction on Earth occured at the end of this period, where 90% of Earth's species were wiped out.
What is the Permian period?
The first dinosaurs began to appear in this period.
What is the Triassic period?
The extinction of many large mammals occured during this event.
What is the Ice Age extinction?
This type of fossil is formed when a species shape is left behind in a rock after decaying.
What are molds?
The first land plants began to appear in this period.
What is the Silurian period?
The first birds began to appear in this period.
What is the Jurassic period?
This environment began to spread and become more common around the Earth during this time period.
What are grasslands?
This type of fossil is formed from the feces of animals which provides a good understanding of their diets in the past.
What are corpolites?
This group of marine species began to form during this time period.
What are corals?
The supercontinent, Pangea, began to break apart in this era which lead to the continents that exist today.
What is the Mesozoic Era?
Several active volcanoes that were formed during the Cenozoic Era.
What are the Cascade volcanoes?
These fossils are created from soft parts of an organism which are preserved as thin layers of carbon, showing the details of their anatomy.
What are carbonaceous films?
During the Paleozoic Era, swamps played a big part in the formation of coal due to dead plant material.
What are coal swamps?
Throughout this period, the continents continued to move apart which lead to the expansion of the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the the Cretaceous period?
This time marks when North and South America connected through the formation of a natural bridge.
What is the Isthmus of Panama?
These fossils originate from species that didn't have a long life span but aided scientists in determining the age of rocks.
What are index fossils?