Life Through Time: Life in the Paleozoic Era

The Paleozoic era, spanning from about 541 to 251 million years ago, was a period of significant diversification of multicellular life. It saw the flourishing of marine invertebrates like trilobites and the emergence of fish. Plants began colonizing land, leading to the formation of coal deposits. The era was marked by several bursts of diversification, interrupted by four major mass extinctions.

Describe the types of life that flourished in the warm, shallow seas during the Paleozoic era.

What did the remains of plants in the swamps form, and why is it important?

What were the first vertebrate animals to walk on land, and when did this occur?

Explain the process and significance of mass extinctions during the Paleozoic era.

What significant event marked the end of the Paleozoic era?