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Geology Links

Geologic Time Scale
Paleontology Links by Subject

QuickLinks

Phanerozoic

Cenozoic
Quaternary
Holocene
Pleistocene
Tertiary
Pliocene
Miocene
Oligocene
Eocene
Paleocene
Mesozoic
Cretaceous
Jurassic
Triassic
Paleozoic
Permian
Carboniferous
Pennsylvanian
Mississippian
Devonian
Silurian
Ordovician
Cambrian
Precambrian
Proterozoic
Archean
Hadean

Paleontology Links

Welcome to the Paleontology links page. These links are provided as additional information to go along with the topics covered on my website. At the time of this posting, the links are all in working order, but if you come across one that doesn't work, please contact me at WWDD.

While this page is about paleontology and fossils, it is also inseparably connected to geology and plate tectonics. It is impossible to understand the stratigraphic and geographic distribution of ancient life on this planet without having at least a basic knowledge of these subjects. In addition, an understanding of radiometric dating is also beneficial, although you will not have to learn much about chemistry and physics to achieve that understanding.

This section is divided into two rather long pages. This first page lists all the geologic periods from most recent to most ancient. To the left you will also find a link to a graphic representation of geologic time. Wherever possible a series of maps is presented showing the size and position of land areas during each period. Also a small list of links is given for a description of the period and for museum and fossil exhibits related to it.

The second page of this section contains a dozen or more broad topics within paleontology with a variety of links to help you explore each subject area. Those links will in turn offer you additional sources of data. A great deal about the fossil record of life is available online to help you learn. But I urge you to read a couple of books and a journal or two and, if possible, to take an introductory course in paleontology. Most colleges and universities offer them, and you can find online course material on this page. This is an exciting time in paleontology. New fossils are being reported almost daily and old, troublesome gaps in the fossil record are rapidly being filled. If you are really interested in being up-to-date subscribe to a paleontological news service.

Eon

Era

Period

Epoch

Phanerozoic - 540 Million Years Before Present (MYBP) to Recent

Cenozoic - 65 (MYBP) to Recent

The Cenozoic means "new life" and refers to the period of time from about 65 million years ago to now. The beginning of the Cenozoic coincides with the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. To see what geologists believe the Earth looked like at the beginning of the Cenozoic, please visit scotese.com - K/T.

The Age of Mammals
Fossil Horses in Cyberspace - University of Florida

See also : Transitional Horse Series.

Introduction to the Cenozoic - UC Berkeley

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Quaternary - 1.8 MYBP to Recent

Earth Sciences: Quaternary Studies
Museum of Paleontology - UC Berkeley
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Holocene - 11,000 YBP to Recent

MAPS: Present Globe | Modern World Map

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Pleistocene - 1.8 MYBP to 11,000 YBP

MAP: Last Ice Age Map

Within this site:

Dino-to-Birds
Hominid Transitions
Whale Transitions

Outside this site:

Museum of Paleontology - UC Berkeley
Pleistocene Animals - Illinois State Museum

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Tertiary - 65 to 1.8 MYBP
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Pliocene - 5 to 1.8 MYPB
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley

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Miocene - 24 - 5 MYBP

MAPS: Miocene Globe | Scotese Map

Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley

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Oligocene - 35 to 24 MYBP
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley

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Eocene - 57 to 35 MYBP

MAPS: Eocene Globe | Scotese Map

Eocene Fossils : Coleoptera, Diptera and Flora
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Tiniest Primate Discovered
Whale Transitions

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Paleocene - 65 to 57 MYBP
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley

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Mesozoic - 251 MYBP to 65 MYBP

Mesozoic means "middle life" or "middle animals." It refers to the time from about 245 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. This time frame can be referred to as the "Age of Dinosaurs" or the "Age of Reptiles."

Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Paleontology: the Mesozoic
The Solnhofen Limestone of Germany
Willo, the Dinosaur with a Heart

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Cretaceous - 144 to 65 MYBP

MAPS: Early Cretaceous Globe | Late Cretaceous Globe | Scotese World Map | K/T Boundary Map

Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinctions
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Oceans of Kansas Paleontology
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Jurassic - 206 to 144 MYBP

MAPS: Late Jurassic Globe | Middle J. Globe | Early J. Globe | Early Jurassic Map | Late Jurassic Map

Archaeopteryx: UC Berkeley
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Paleontological Museum of Oslo
Rare Dino Tracks

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Triassic - 251 to 206 MYBP

MAPS: Triassic Globe | Scotese Map

Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Paleozoic - 543 to 251 MYBP

Paleozoic means "ancient life." This is the period of time when animals diversified, and the end of this period is marked by the largest mass extinction event.

Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Paleontology: Paleozoic

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Permian - 300 to 251 MYBP

MAPS: Permian Globe | Scotese Map

Museum of Paleontology
Organisms Present in the Permian.
Paleontological Museum of Oslo
The Permian Extinction
Permian Extinction - Introduction

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Carboniferous - 354 to 300 MYBP
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Pennsylvanian - 320 to 300 MYBP

MAPS: Pennsylvanian Globe | Scotese Map

Mazon Creek Fossils and Deposits

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Mississippian - 354 to 320 MYBP

MAPS: Mississippian Globe | Scotese Map

Fossils of Nova Scotia

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Devonian - 409 to 354 MYBP

MAPS: Early Devonian Globe | Late Devonian Globe | Scotese Map

Museum of Paleontology
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Silurian - 439 to 409 MYBP

MAPS: Silurian Globe | Scotese Map

Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Paleontological Museum of Oslo
The Silurian Eurypterid Fauna
Virtual Silurian Reef

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Ordovician - 510 to 439 MYBP

MAPS: Early Ordovician Globe | Late Ordovician Globe | Scotese Map

Museum of Paleontology
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Cambrian - 543 to 510 MYBP
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Precambrian - 4556 to 543 MYBP

MAPS: Scotese Map

Museum of Paleontology
Paleontological Museum of Oslo

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Proterozoic - 2500 to 543 MYBP
The Dawn of Animal Life Exhibit
Eukaryotic Cells
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley - Vendian
Vendian Animals

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Archean - 3800 to 2500 MYBP
Earth's Beginnings and Archean Life
Meteorite Changed Earth's History 3.4 Billion Years Ago
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley
Oldest ever fossils found

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Hadean - 4550 to 3800 MYBP
Museum of Paleontology UC Berkeley