Oct 182 min read

The Carboniferous Period: A Real Life Horror Movie

Background:

If you have not heard of the Carboniferous period, you are in for what I like to call a "Horror Movie in Real Life". Unlike the current period we are in (quaternary period) where we dominate the land, at some point we had large roaches and dragonflies that roamed the land. Yes.... large insects! Who can imagine this? I am sure plenty of us do not want to image this, so I am here to help you all with some visuals. But first, let's start with some background.

The Carboniferous Period began around 359 million years ago following the Devonian period. It is divided into two major epochs: the Mississippian (early Carboniferous) and the Pennsylvanian (late Carboniferous).

The period was categorized by a warm, humid climate, which supported lush vegetation and extensive swampy areas. It was also known for its vast forests of giant club mosses, horsetails, and ferns. These plants contributed significantly to the formation of coal deposits.

As far as animals, it was home to a diverse marine life, including brachiopods, crinoids, and ammonites. Terrestrial life included early reptiles, amphibians, and various arthropods.

Well Known For?

Enough of the boring background. This is what we are here for... the carboniferous period was mostly known for having extensive plant life, high oxygen levels, and animals with a very large body plan. While not as well-known for mass extinction as some other periods, the Carboniferous period did experience some ecological changes that affected marine and terrestrial life.

See below some of the very weird and scary animals that roamed the Earth in this period. For the full summary of each check out Professor Mompoint's YT channel.

COOL ANIMALS: