Silurian

E43370

The Silurian is a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era, roughly 443 to 419 million years ago, marked by the stabilization of Earth’s climate, widespread shallow seas, and significant diversification of early marine life and the first land plants.

All labels observed (4)

Label Occurrences
Silurian Period 14
Silurian canonical 10
Silurian period 8

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf geologic period
period of the Paleozoic Era
atmosphere rising atmospheric oxygen levels
boundaryDefinition defined by Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs)
characterizedBy diversification of marine life
first well-established land plants
high sea levels
reef expansion
stabilization of Earth’s climate
warm greenhouse climate
widespread shallow epicontinental seas
chronostratigraphicUnit Silurian System
linked to: Silurian
climate post-glacial warming after Ordovician glaciation
relatively stable global temperatures
continentConfiguration Baltica moving toward Laurentia
Gondwana dominant in Southern Hemisphere
Laurentia near equator
duration about 24 million years
endTime about 419 million years ago
flora earliest vascular plants
simple land plant communities
follows Ordovician
geochronologicUnit Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
marineLife coral-stromatoporoid reefs
diverse brachiopods
early jawed fishes
eurypterids
jawless fishes
namedAfter Silures
linked to: Celtic tribes

ancient Welsh tribe Silures
namedBy Roderick Murchison
namedInYear 1835
paleogeography extensive shallow continental shelves
paleontology early terrestrial ecosystems
important fossil reef systems
partOf Paleozoic Era
precedes Devonian
startBoundaryEvent end-Ordovician mass extinction
startTime about 443 million years ago
stratigraphicRank system
subdivision Llandovery
Ludlow
Pridoli
linked to: Pridoli Epoch

Wenlock
tectonicActivity Caledonian orogeny
usedIn geologic time scale

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (34)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Phanerozoic Eon contains Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Paleozoic Era contains Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Osteichthyes hasFossilRecordFrom Silurian period
linked to: Silurian
Silurian chronostratigraphicUnit Silurian System
linked to: Silurian
Silurian geochronologicUnit Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
International Chronostratigraphic Chart includes Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Lycopodiophyta firstAppearance Silurian period
linked to: Silurian
Devonian Period follows Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Ordovician Period precedes Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Gnathostomata firstAppearance Silurian period
linked to: Silurian
Agnatha highDiversityIn Silurian period
linked to: Silurian
Roderick Murchison notableWork Silurian System
linked to: Silurian
Pridoli Epoch partOf Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Lochkovian follows Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Wenlock partOf Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Sarcopterygii firstAppearance Silurian period
linked to: Silurian
Lachlan Fold Belt formedDuring Silurian period
linked to: Silurian
Age of Fishes follows Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Age of Fishes precededBy Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Laurussia formedDuringPeriod Silurian Period
subject linked to: Laurussia continent
linked to: Silurian
Laurussia existedDuringPeriod Silurian Period
subject linked to: Laurussia continent
linked to: Silurian
Late Ordovician precedes Silurian Period
linked to: Silurian
Placodermi firstAppearance Silurian period
linked to: Silurian
Acanthodii firstAppearance Silurian period
linked to: Silurian