The Carboniferous period is a geological period that lasted from about 359 to 299 million years ago, during the Paleozoic era. It is far-named after the abundant coal deposits that were formed during this time. The Carboniferous period is divided into two subperiods, the Mississippian and the Pennsylvanian.
During the Carboniferous period, the Earth’s climate was generally warm and humid, with abundant vegetation and forests that covered much of the land. The seas were also teeming with life, including marine invertebrates, fish, and early sharks. This period saw the evolution of many new groups of organisms, including the first reptiles and amphibians.
One of the most significant occurrences or events during the Carboniferous period was the rise of large, forest-dwelling arthropods, such as spiders and millipedes. These creatures were able to grow to enormous sizes due to the high levels of atmospheric oxygen at the time.
The Carboniferous period ended with a mass extinction event that wiped out many of the dominant groups of animals and plants, paving the way for the evolution of new groups in the following geological period, the Permian.