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Which periods make up the Paleozoic Era?
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geologic history of Earth
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The Paleozoic Era, which spanned from approximately 538.8 million to 252 million years ago, is divided into six distinct geological periods. Listed from oldest to youngest, these periods are:
- Cambrian Period: 538.8 million to 485.4 million years ago.1
- Ordovician Period: 485.4 million to 443.8 million years ago.1
- Silurian Period: 443.8 million to 419.2 million years ago.1
- Devonian Period: 419.2 million to 358.9 million years ago.1
- Carboniferous Period: 358.9 million to 298.9 million years ago.1
- Permian Period: 298.9 million to 252.2 million years ago.1
The era began with the Cambrian explosion, a period of rapid diversification of marine life, and concluded with the end-Permian extinction, which remains the most significant extinction event in Earth's history.1