359.2 MA CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD (359.2-299 MA) MISSISSIPPIAN SUBPERIOD (359.2-318.1) TOURNAISIAN STAGE (359.2-345.3 MA) 345.3 MA VISIAN
STAGE
(345.3-328.3 MA) 328.3 MA SERPUKHOVIAN
STAGE (328.3-318.1 MA) 320 MA Hybodonts - one of two branches of sharks (mostly saltwater) appears 318.1 MA PENNSYLVANIAN SUBPERIOD (318.1-299 MA) Great
Coal Age - reduction of carbon dioxide
and rise of atmospheric oxygen
Hercynian
- Appalachian mountain building Huge
forests of primitive plants Age
of Amphibians Reptiles
appear BASHKIRIAN
STAGE (318.1-311.7 MA) 311.7 MA MOSCOVIAN
STAGE (311.7-307.2 MA) 307.2 MA UPPER
PENNSYLVANIAN EPOCH (307.2-299 MA) KASIMOVIAN
STAGE
(307.2-303.4
MA) 303.4 MA GZHELIAN
STAGE
(303.4-299 MA) 300 MA Equatorial
Africa most likely covered by a continental ice sheet at this time Conifers
present in the fossil record