LIFE  IN THE PROTEROZOIC

The Early Earth was dominated by single celled organisms. Simple Prokaryotes developed  3.5-3.8 Ga, followed by more complex Eukaryotes ~1.6 Ga. 

Go to EUKARYOTES

At the end of the Proterozoic in a time referred to as Vendian (~600-524Ma) multicellular animals developed which would give rise to an event referred to as the Cambrian Explosion. The oldest known multicellular animals  (metazoans) are 600 Ma and were discovered in Canada (http://geol.queensu.ca/museum/exhibits/oldanim/oldanim.html)

The end of the Proterozoic Eon was marked by the possible extinction of the Ediacaran fauna, although new evidence suggests Ediacarans persisted into the Cambrian

Go to EDIACARANS

Up until August of 2001, most scientists agreed that life did not colonize land surfaces until the Silurian Period, approximately 460-480 Ma. However a recent study suggests that land colonization may have begun in the Proterozoic. This is exciting cutting-edge science, wouldn't you agree?

Go to TERRESTRIAL LIFE

 

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