The period in Earth’s histor y when the
supercontinent Pangaea broke up in to the northern
Laurasia and southern Gondwana, the Jurassic saw
an explosion in marine and terrestrial
life. The fossil record points to
dinosaurs thriv ing, such as
Megalosaurus, an increase
in large predator y fish
like Ichthyosaurus, as
well as the evolution
of the first birds –
shown famously by
the Archaeopteryx
fossil find.5 | JURASSIC | 199.6-145.5 Ma
The most recent period in Earth’s history, the
Quaternar y is characterised by
major changes in climate, as
well as the evolution and
dispersement of modern
humans. Due to the
rapid changes in
environment and
climate (ie, ice ages),
many larger mammal
fossils have been
discovered, including
those of mammoths and
sabre-toothed cats.1 | QUATERNARY | 2.588-0.00 Ma
Covering 23 million years, the Neogene period’s
fossils show a marked development in mammals and
birds, with many hominin remains excavated. The
extinct hominid australopithecus afarensis – a
common ancestor of the genus homo (that of modern
humans) – is one of the most notable fossil finds, as
exemplified in the specimens Luc y and Selam.2 | NEOGENE | 23.03-2.588 Ma
The first period of the Cenozoic era, the Paleogene
is notable for the rise of mammals as the
dominant animal group on Earth, driven by the
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event that wiped
out the dinosaurs. The most important fossil to
be discovered from this period is Darwinius, a
lemur-like creature uncovered from a shale
quarry in Messel, Germany.3 | PALEOGENE | 65.5-23.03 Ma
Fossils discovered from the
Cretaceous indicate an
explosion of insect
diversification, with the first
ants and grasshoppers
evolving, as well as the
dominance of large dinosaurs
such as the colossal
Tyrannosaurus rex. Mammals
increased in diversity,
however remained small and
largely marsupial.4 | CRETACEOUS | 145.5-65.5 Ma
A period characterised by the diversification of
early amniotes (egg-bearing invertebrates) in
to mammals, turtles, lepidosaurs and
archosaurs, the Permian has yielded many
diverse fossils. Notable examples include
reptile therapsids, dragonflies and, driven by
late warmer climates, lycopod trees.7 | PERMIAN | 299-251 Ma
A period of significant glaciation, the Carboniferous saw
the development of ferns and conifers, bivalve molluscs
and a wide-variet y of basal tetrapods such as
labyrinthodontia. Notable fossilised finds include the
seed ferns pecopteris and neuropteris.8 | CARBONIFEROUS | 359.2-299 Ma © DK Images
Beginning and ending with an extinction
event, the Triassic period’s fossils show the
evolution of the first dinosaurs such as
Coelophysis, a small carnivorous biped
animal. Fossil evidence also shows the
development of modern corals and reefs.6 | TRIASSIC | 250-200 Ma
© H. Zell© Dlloyd© Fritz Geller-Grimm© J.M.Luijt
© Ballista© DanielCD© Petter BøckmanDID YOU KNOW? (^) The minimum age for an excavated specimen to be classed as a fossil is 10,000 years