Cambrian-Ordovician extinction events
Encyclopedia
The Cambrian–Ordovician extinction event occurred approximately 488 million years ago (m.y.a.). This early Phanerozoic
Eon extinction event
eliminated many brachiopods and conodonts, and severely reduced the number of trilobite
species.
It was preceded by the less-documented (but probably worse) End Botomian event around 517 m.y.a. and the Dresbachian
event about 502 m.y.a.
The Cambro–Ordovician event ended the Cambrian
Period, and led into the Ordovician
Period in the Paleozoic
Era.
The Cambrian–Ordovician extinction event occurred approximately 488 million years ago (m.y.a.). This early Phanerozoic
Phanerozoic
The Phanerozoic Eon is the current eon in the geologic timescale, and the one during which abundant animal life has existed. It covers roughly 542 million years and goes back to the time when diverse hard-shelled animals first appeared...
Eon extinction event
Extinction event
An extinction event is a sharp decrease in the diversity and abundance of macroscopic life. They occur when the rate of extinction increases with respect to the rate of speciation...
eliminated many brachiopods and conodonts, and severely reduced the number of trilobite
Trilobite
Trilobites are a well-known fossil group of extinct marine arthropods that form the class Trilobita. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record defines the base of the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian period , and they flourished throughout the lower Paleozoic era before...
species.
It was preceded by the less-documented (but probably worse) End Botomian event around 517 m.y.a. and the Dresbachian
Dresbachian
The Dresbachian is the lower stage of the Late or Upper Cambrian Period in North America, equivalent to the Chinese Guzhangian which spans about 4 million years, from...
event about 502 m.y.a.
The Cambro–Ordovician event ended the Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
Period, and led into the Ordovician
Ordovician
The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic Era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian Period and is followed by the Silurian Period...
Period in the Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
Era.
See also
- End Botomian extinction event, circa 517 m.y.a.
- DresbachianDresbachianThe Dresbachian is the lower stage of the Late or Upper Cambrian Period in North America, equivalent to the Chinese Guzhangian which spans about 4 million years, from...
extinction event, circa 502 m.y.a. - Geologic time scaleGeologic time scaleThe geologic time scale provides a system of chronologic measurement relating stratigraphy to time that is used by geologists, paleontologists and other earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth...
- Furongian, Late or Upper Cambrian period
- Early Ordovician period
Further reading
- Gradstein, Felix, James Ogg, and Alan Smith, eds., 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 (Cambridge University Press).
- Hallam, A. and Paul B. Wignall, 1997. Mass extinctions and their aftermath (Oxford University Press).
- Webby, Barry D. and Mary L. Droser, eds., 2004. The Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (Columbia University Press).