#418: The Cambrian Explosion

The Cambrian Explosion is the name given to an important period in the development of life on Earth. 

Around 530 million years ago, a wide variety of animals burst onto the evolutionary scene in an event known as the Cambrian explosion. 

In perhaps as few as 10 million years, marine animals evolved most of the basic body forms that we observe in modern groups. This added massively to the biodiversity of the world.

The Oxford Museum of Natural History has a display on this period.

There is some debate of course about whether it actually happened as many think. Nobody was around to see it of course, and the fossil record is sometimes open to debate.

One of the most important sites is the Burgess Shale, where much of this activity can be traced. This was mentioned in books by Richard Fortey.

Image copyright: Brittanica

Publisher
Encyclopædia Britannica
URL
https://www.britannica.com/science/Cambrian-explosion#/media/1/90620/124131
Access Date
October 21, 2024