Devonian Period

Devonian Period

START

Lasted between 419.2 - 358.9 Million Years Ago

An image depicting trilobites being eaten by placoderm fish, Dunkleosteus.

Organisms

Known to have a boom in marine life, the Devonion Period experienced a large amount of fish. This was also when the first sharks appeared, with the oldest one being identified as 'Doliodus problematicus' (Miller). Other placoderms and tetrapods also roamed the oceans.

Climate during this time was known to be warm and arid. Had large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Large tree's were present at this time.

Major Event: Late Devonian Extinction

375 - 360 Million Years Ago

Late Devonian Extinction

Occuring in the later end of the Devonian Period, a series of mass extinctions occured causing many species to die off. This extinction was primarily towards the marine life. It is known to be caused by a drop of oxygen in the oceans/seas. Many trilobites and all armored placoderms disappeared from the oceans during this time but more were effected as well.

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Fun facts

Notable facts about the Devonian Period

Placoderms

The fish that dominated the period

Sharks

The first sharks

Insects

The first insects

Land

The continents at the time

References: Miller, R. F., R. Cloutier, and S. Turner. "The oldest articulated chondrichthyan from the Early Devonian period." Nature, vol. 425, no. 6957, 2003, pp. 501-504. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/oldest-articulated-chondrichthyan-early-devonian/docview/18874961/se-2, doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02001. Young, Gavin C. "Placoderms (Armored Fish): Dominant Vertebrates of the Devonian Period." Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, vol. 38, 2010, pp. 523. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/placoderms-armored-fish-dominant-vertebrates/docview/220811371/se-2. https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/devonian/devonian.php#:~:text=The%20first%20tetrapods%20%E2%80%94%20land%2Dliving,and%20ammonites%20were%20also%20common.

Image Sources: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-palaeozoology-devonian-period-tetrapods-and-extinct-fishes-ichthyostega-86107628.html https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-10-23-large-tides-may-have-been-key-factor-evolution-bony-fish-and-tetrapods https://www.australianenvironmentaleducation.com.au/education-resources/life-in-the-devonian/

References

Did you know...

In this period the development of the first insects also occured. One being collembolans (springtails). They were wingless.

Placoderms

A fish that existed and died within the Devonian Period. Its features involved it having a jaw as well as teeth. It being among the first fish to have such features.

Did you know...

The Devonian period had three main landmasses as opposed to our current seven. North America and Europe was attached to each other as one, Siberia was one, and a combination of the rest was the third.

Did you know...

The first sharks appeared in this period and they evolved from existing placoderms.