Cambrian
541 Ma – 485.4 Ma · part of the Paleozoic era
During the Cambrian, most major animal groups appear in the fossil record within a few tens of millions of years — the “Cambrian explosion.” Shelled and armored creatures filled shallow seas, and sites like the Burgess Shale preserve the burst of diversity in exquisite detail.
View the Cambrian on the globe →
Highlights
- The Cambrian explosion of body plans
- First animals with hard shells and eyes
- Burgess Shale fossil preservation