Devonian Period
419-358 million years ago
The Devonian Period happened long before dinosaurs. Known as the Age of Fishes, the oceans were packed with armored fish, sharks, and the first jawed vertebrates. By the end of the Devonian, the first four-limbed animals had crawled out of the water onto land, setting the stage for everything that followed.
Fun Facts
- âThe first forests appeared during the Devonian Period, dramatically changing Earth's atmosphere.
- âTiktaalik, a famous transitional fossil, shows the moment fish began developing limb-like fins to move on land.
- âThe Devonian ended with another major mass extinction that wiped out about 75% of all species.
- âThe first insects and spiders appeared during the Devonian Period.
- âSharks have existed since the Devonian Period. They are older than trees.