Paleozoic

[ pey-lee-uh-zoh-ikor, especially British, pal-ee- ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to an era occurring between 570 million and 230 million years ago, characterized by the advent of fish, insects, and reptiles.

noun

1. the Paleozoic Era or group of systems.

Paleozoic

/ pā′lē-ə-zō′ĭk /

1. The era of geologic time from about 540 to 245 million years ago. The beginning of the Paleozoic Era is characterized by a great diversity of marine invertebrate animals. Primitive fish and reptiles, land plants, and insects also first appeared during this time. The end of the Paleozoic is marked by the largest recorded mass extinction in the Earth's history, which wiped out nearly 90% of known marine life forms.
2. See Chart at geologic time

Other Words From

• post-Pa·le·o·zoic adjective
• pre-Pa·le·o·zoic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Paleozoic¹

1830–40; paleo- + -zoic < Greek zōïkós pertaining to animals; zo-, -ic

Example Sentences

The skin, which belonged to an early species of Paleozoic reptile, has a pebbled surface and most closely resembles crocodile skin.

From Science Daily

The fragment, reported today in Current Biology, dates back to the late Paleozoic Era, when many species began to emerge from the water to live on land.

From Science Magazine

Trilobites are early arthropods from the Paleozoic Era.

From Science Daily

When the going got tough in the Paleozoic Era, trilobites rolled up.

From New York Times

The final meal of this animal—a trilobite—still sat in its guts as sediment buried its body in the sea floor of an ancient Paleozoic sea.

From Science Magazine