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The study of ocean depths and topography of the ocean floor in the geologic past.
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The branch of paleontology that deals with the geographic distribution of plants and animals in past geologic time, especially with regard to ecology, climate, and evolution.
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The study of oceans in the geologic past, including its physical, chemical, biologic, and geologic aspects.
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Earliest epoch of the Tertiary period, spanning the time between 65 and 55.5 million years ago. It is named after the Greek words "palaois" (old) and "ceno" (new).
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The climate of a given period of time in the geologic past.
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The study of the relationships between ancient plants and animals and their environments.
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Environment in the geologic past.
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Scientists who study fossils.
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The study of life in past geologic time.
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An era of geologic time, from the end of the Precambrian to the beginning of the Mesozoic, spanning the time between 544 and 248 million years ago. The word Paleozoic is from Greek and means "old life."
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Referring to open water marine habitats free of direct influence of the shore or ocean bottom. Pelagic organisms are generally free-swimming (nektonic) or floating (planktonic).
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A period of the Paleozoic era, spanning the time between 325 and 286 million years ago. It is named after the state of Pennsylvania where rocks of this age are widespread.
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The final period of the Paleozoic era, spanning the time between 286 and 248 million years ago. It is named after the province of Perm, Russia, where rocks of this age were first studied.
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The period of time, also known as an eon, between the end of the Precambrian and today, The Phanerozoic begins with the start of the Cambrian period, 544 million years ago. It encompasses the period of abundant, complex life on the Earth.
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A peculiar group of primitive armored jawed fish, found almost exclusively in rocks from the Devonian Period.
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Aquatic organisms that drift, or swim weakly.
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Used to describe aquatic organisms that float.
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An epoch of the Quaternary period, spanning the time between 1.8 million years ago and the beginning of the Holocene at 8,000 years ago. It is named after the Greek words "pleistos" (most) and "ceno" (new).
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Final epoch of the Tertiary period, spanning the time between 5.3 and 1.8 million years ago. It is named after the Greek words "pleion" (more) and "ceno" (new).
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All geologic time before the beginning of the Paleozoic era. This includes about 90% of all geologic time and spans the time from the beginning of the earth, about 4.5 billion years ago, to 544 million years ago. Its name means "before Cambrian."
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The final era of the Precambrian, spanning the time between 2.5 billion and 544 million years ago. Fossils of both primitive single celled and more advanced multicellular organisms begin to appear in abundance in rocks from this era. Its name means "early life."
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An organism that belongs to the kingdom Protista, which includes forms with both plant and animal affinities, i.e., protozoans, bacteria, and some algae, fungi, and viruses.
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