Paleozoic Era

Devonian Period

419–359 Million Years Ago

Known as the 'Age of Fishes,' the Devonian witnessed an extraordinary radiation of fish, including the first sharks, ray-finned fish, and lobe-finned fish — the ancestors of all terrestrial vertebrates. The first forests appeared, transforming the atmosphere and creating new ecological niches. The iconic transition from water to land occurred when lobe-finned fish evolved into the first tetrapods.

Environment

Climate & Environment

Generally warm with periods of glaciation late in the period. The spread of forests began drawing down atmospheric CO₂.

Fauna & Flora

Signature Life Forms

Dunkleosteus — armored apex predator

Tiktaalik — transitional fish-tetrapod

First forests (Archaeopteris)

First insects and spiders on land