The Coming of Life
The Silurian Period
This is a short and very important
period. The name comes from an
ancient tribe of people called the
Silures who lived in a part of
England where the first fossils
of this period were found.
period. The name comes from an
ancient tribe of people called the
Silures who lived in a part of
England where the first fossils
of this period were found.
The seas began to dry up so
the plants and animals found
themselves in a swamp. Thus
they had not to learn to adapt
to their new environment.
the plants and animals found
themselves in a swamp. Thus
they had not to learn to adapt
to their new environment.
Now we have the first algae that
learned to live in the alluvial soil in the
bottom of the swamp. They reproduced
very rapidly because the air was filled
learned to live in the alluvial soil in the
bottom of the swamp. They reproduced
very rapidly because the air was filled
with carbon dioxide. We find the
beginning of little leaves on plants.
beginning of little leaves on plants.
We find the first mosses, with a little
stem and tiny leaves, but no roots.
Plants need light so these plants
began to reach for the light.
They also need carbon dioxide
to feed themselves.
began to reach for the light.
They also need carbon dioxide
to feed themselves.
Plants were the first to conquer
the land because the air had too
much carbon dioxide for animals to
breathe. And since plants feed on
carbon dioxide and give off oxygen,
much carbon dioxide for animals to
breathe. And since plants feed on
carbon dioxide and give off oxygen,
the plants prepared the earth
for the animals.
for the animals.
In the Silurian Period we see
the beginning of corals, who were
great consumers of calcium.
They can build island.
the beginning of corals, who were
great consumers of calcium.
They can build island.
The first vertebrates appeared -
tiny fish with cartilage and a skeleton.
These were the so-called "armored fish"
because their bodies were covered by
a protective, bony, shell-like covering.
