Life on Earth

By norafoltz
  • 3650 BCE

    E

    Earliest evidence of life (heterotrophic, prokaryotic bacteria) 3,650 MYA
  • 2500 BCE

    F

    First photosynthetic/ autotrophic bacteria appear 2,500 MYA
  • 2200 BCE

    G

    First Great Extinction, oxygen-producing bacteria "poison" the environment, age of aerobic organisms begins 2,200 MYA
  • 1750 BCE

    H

    First Eukaryotes appear 1,750 MYA
  • 650 BCE

    I

    Sexual Reproduction begins 650 MYA
  • 650 BCE

    J

    Multicellular life appears 650 MYA
  • 550 BCE

    K

    "Cambrian Explosion" --huge diversity and complexity increase in a relatively short period of time-- 550 MYA
  • Period: 550 BCE to 3650 BCE

    D

    Precambrian Time
  • 505 BCE

    L

    Marine invertebrates appear 505 MYA
  • 438 BCE

    M

    Great Extinction, fish appear 438 MYA
  • 408 BCE

    N

    Land plants appear 408 MYA
  • 360 BCE

    O

    Great Extinction, amphibians appear 360 MYA
  • 286 BCE

    P

    Reptiles appear 286 MYA
  • 245 BCE

    Q

    Great Extinction, seed plants appear 245 MYA
  • Period: 245 BCE to 66 BCE

    B

    Mesozoic Era
  • Period: 245 BCE to 550 BCE

    C

    Paleozoic Era
  • 208 BCE

    R

    Great Extinction, mammals and dinosaurs appear 208 MYA
  • 144 BCE

    S

    Primitive birds appear 144 MYA
  • 66 BCE

    T

    Great Extinction, dinosaurs disappear 66 MYA
  • Period: 66 BCE to 1 CE

    A

    Cenozoic Era
  • 60 BCE

    U

    Primates appear 60 MYA
  • 38 BCE

    V

    Anthropoids (day-active primates) appear 38 MYA
  • 37 BCE

    W

    Primitive horses appear 37 MYA
  • 1 CE

    X

    Humans appear 0.1 MYA
  • 1 CE

    Y

    Historical date of Jesus birth 0.002 MYA
  • 1 CE

    Z

    USA's declaration of independence 0.0002 MYA