Cambrian explosion

For the 20th-century coal mine accidents, see Cambrian Colliery.

The Cambrian explosion (also known as Cambrian radiation or Cambrian diversification) is an interval of time beginning approximately 538.8 million years ago in the Cambrian period of the early Paleozoic, when a sudden radiation of complex life occurred and practically all major animal phyla started appearing in the fossil record. It lasted for about 13 to 25 million years and resulted in the divergence of most modern metazoan phyla. The event was accompanied by major diversification in other groups of organisms as well.

Before early Cambrian diversification, most organisms were relatively simple, composed of individual cells or small multicellular organisms, occasionally organized into colonies. As the rate of diversification subsequently accelerated, the variety of life became much more complex and began to resemble that of today. Almost all present-day animal phyla appeared during this period, including the earliest chordates.

Key Cambrian explosion events
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Fortunian
"Stage 2"
"Stage 3"
"Stage 4"
Wuliuan
Drumian
Guzhangian
Paibian
Jiangshanian
"Stage 10"
 
 
Ediacaran
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Baykonur
glaciation
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Orsten fauna
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Archaeocyatha extinction
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First arthropods with mineralized carapace (Trilobites)
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SSF diversification, first brachiopods & archaeocyatha
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Treptichnus pedum
Large negative δ13C peak
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First Cloudina & Namacalathus mineral tubular fossils
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Mollusc-like Kimberella and its trace fossils
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Gaskiers glaciation
Archaeonassa-type trace fossils


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