Carboniferous
358.2-299 mya
Carboniferous Period
The term "Carboniferous" comes from England, in reference to the rich deposits of coal that occur there. The Carboniferous Period was from 358.2-299 mya during the Paleozoic Era and Phanerozoic Eon. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing." The Carboniferous Period is known as the "Time When Insects Ruled."
Life on land in the Carboniferous Period.
There were lots of plants like Sigillaria and Lepidodendron. There were also lots of giant insects like Meganeura, Arthropleura, and Megarachne. There were also large crocodile-like reptiles like the Proterogyrinus. Trilobites and Tetrapods ruled the Carboniferous Period.
Meganeura
The Meganeura is a giant dragonfly that was slightly larger than a modern-day bald eagle. Meganeura lived from 305-299 mya.
Arthropleura
The Arthropleura is a large centipede that was about 8 feet in length. Arthropleura lived from 340-280 mya.
Megarachne
The Megarachne is the largest spider ever known that is about the size of 2 human heads put together. Megarachne lived from 302-298 mya.
Lepidodendron
Also known as the scale tree, Lepidodendron is an extinct ancient tree that grew to about 130 feet high. Lepidodendron lived from 359.2-299 mya.
Sigillaria
Sigillaria is an ancient tree-sized lycopsid that grew to about 90 feet high. Its closest relative is Lepidodendron. Sigillaria lived from 383-254 mya.
Proterogyrinus
Proterogyrinus was the largest reptile in the Carboniferous Period about 10 feet in length. Proterogyrinus lived from 328-314 mya.
Oceans of the Carboniferous Period
There were 3 large oceans in the Early Carboniferous Period at about 356 mya. The largest being the Panthalassic in the northern hemisphere. The others are Rheic and Paleo-Tethys Oceans. The Rheic Ocean was located in the southern hemisphere. The Paleo-Tethys Ocean was located between the continents. At about 306 mya during the Late Carboniferous Period the Panthalassic and Rheic Oceans combine and make the Panthalassic Ocean larger. There were large sharks that patrolled these oceans. The most commonly talked about is Edestus. Edestus was about the size of a tiger shark.
Early Carboniferous Oceans (356 mya)
Panthalassic, Rheic, and Paleo-Tethys Oceans.
Late Carboniferous Oceans (306 mya)
Panthalassic and Paleo-Tethys Oceans.
Edestus (Late Carboniferous)
Edestus was the largest predatory fish during the Carboniferous Period. Edestus lived from 338-301 mya.
Continents of the Carboniferous Period
The continents that were in the Carboniferous Period were Pangea, Gondwana, Siberia, Kazakhstania, North China, and South China. Pangea was the most centralized of the continents and was also the second largest. Gondwana was in the southern hemisphere and was the largest of the continents. Siberia and Kazakhstania were located in the northern hemisphere. North and South China were located to the east of Pangea.
Landforms
All throughout the Carboniferous Period there were swamps everywhere. The swamps were very low in elevation. There were a couple of mountains in Pangea, Siberia, and western Gondwana.
Atmosphere in the Carboniferous Period
Oxygen in the early Carboniferous Period was about 20 percent. By the end of of the Carboniferous Period the oxygen levels increase by 15 percent. The Carboniferous Period had a lot of oxygen and that is what made the insects become the rulers of the land.
Climate during the Carboniferus Period
The Carboniferous Period was a little warmer than it is today. Glaciers had just started freezing at the poles but by the end of the Carboniferous Period the glaciers had started to melt and go away.
The Carboniferous Period - Earth Science Project