Devonian

[ duh-voh-nee-uhn ]

adjective

1. Geology. noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era, 405 to 345 million years ago, characterized by the dominance of fishes and the advent of amphibians and ammonites.
2. of or relating to Devonshire, England.

noun

1. Geology. the Devonian Period or System.

Devonian

/ dəˈvəʊnɪən /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the fourth period of the Palaeozoic era, between the Silurian and Carboniferous periods, lasting 60-70 million years during which amphibians first appeared
2. of or relating to Devon

noun

1. the Devonian
   the Devonian period or rock system

Devonian

/ dĭ-vō′nē-ən /

1. The fourth period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 408 to 360 million years ago. During this time there were three major landmasses: most of modern day North America and Europe were located along the equator; a portion of Siberia was located to the north; and a continent consisting of South America, Australia, Africa, India, and Antarctica was located in the Southern Hemisphere. In the early Devonian small plants dominated the landscape, but by the end of the Devonian ferns and seed plants had appeared, as had the first forests. The first tetrapods (terrestrial vertebrates) and terrestrial arthropods appeared, as did many new types of fish.
2. See Chart at geologic time

Other Words From

• post-De·voni·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Devonian¹

1605–15; < Medieval Latin Devoni ( a ) Devon + -an

Example Sentences

Their aim was to answer questions about feeding in early vertebrates without jaws in the early Devonian epoch -- sometimes called the Age of Fishes -- around 400 million years ago.

From Science Daily

During the Devonian period, this region was not attached to the rest of England, but instead lay further south, connected to parts of Germany and Belgium, where similar Devonian fossils have been found.

From Science Daily

Discovered in Poland in 1957, this Devonian Period fish was initially known for a set of large, bony spines.

From New York Times

During the Devonian era, new biological outcomes on land produced negative effects for life in the ocean.

From Science Daily

Shifts in sea levels during the Early-Middle Devonian period probably disrupted natural ocean barriers that had kept waters cooler at the South Pole.

From Science Daily