The Paleozoic Era saw an explosion of life, as the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia formed most of the southern and northern portions of the supercontinent Pangea. During the Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian periods, life was restricted to the seas surrounding Gondwana, which contained the continents of present-day South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and parts of Asia. By the end of the Paleozoic Era, around 400 million years ago, all continents had fused into the single landmass of Pangea, and plants first began moving from waterside habitats onto land.

1. 13.2 Paleozoic Era: Life Explodes

2. Gondwana
• Late Paleozoic continent that formed the
southern portion of Pangea, consisting of all
or parts of present- day South America, Africa,
Australia, India, and Antarctica

3. Laurasia
• The continental mass that formed the
northern portion of Pangea, consisting of
present-day North America and Eurasia.

4. Key Concept
• Following the long Precambrian, the most
recent 540 million years of Earth’s history are
divided into three eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic,
and Cenozoic

5. Key Concept
• During the Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian
periods, the vast southern continent of
Gondwana encompassed five of today’s
continents ( South America, Africa, Australia,
Antarctica, and parts of Asia)

6. Key Concept
• Life in early Paleozoic time was restricted to
the seas.

7. Key concept
• By the end of the Paleozoic, all the continents
had fused into supercontinent of Pangea.

8. Key Concept
• Some 400 million years ago, plants that had
adapted to survive at the water’s edge began
to move inland, becoming land plants.

9. Key Concept
• The amphibians rapidly diversified because
they had minimal competition from other land
dwellers.