Cambrian Period

538.8–486.85 Ma

Cambrian Period

Hallucigenia sparsa displays an early example of a defensive adaptation used to deter pedators in the form of sharp spikes on its back that would hopefully discourage predators from picking it up and eating it

It is during the cambrian period that many creatures evolved the ability to move under their own power aiding predators to chase their prey and aiding prey to evade their predators.

Trilobites were one of the most comon arthropods during the cambrian period and played a crusial role in the cambrian food web. Also they are very cute.

though eyes had begun evolving before the cambrian period it would be during the cambrian that they became a widespread adaptation that would aid both predators and prey

During the cambrian period we begin to see many of the earliest predators evolve into existence including creatures from the order radiotonita including the famous anomalocarris which would hunt trilobites.

This event was a diversification the likes of which the world had never seen, resulting in the evolution of some of the first truly complex life on earth. Almost all present-day animal phyla appeared during this period. This event coincides with increases in the amount of oxygen available which is theorized to be one of the main causes.

the cambrian explosion

The climate during the cambrian period was a bit warmer than it was today with a global average of about 23 C or about 8 degrees warmer than today. There was a very mild difference in tempertures at the poles and equator. Oxygen levels were significantly lower than they are today varying from 3-14%. The land mass at the time was arranged much differently thant today with two of the largest continents being Gondwana and Laurentia

neat creatures and facts(click images to show and hide)

A POST EDIACARAN WORLD