Wildlife History

Carboniferous animals - Animals in the Fossil sites, and Biodiversity

Classified animal picture guide. Clicking the Organism name shows the images, and pointing the Organism name shows the tooltip with three links at the left-top corner.
The Carboniferous is 5th era in Paleozoic spanned from 359 to 299 million years ago. The first amniote egg appeared in the Carboniferous. These included the earliest sauropsid reptiles and synapsid. It was great evolution to allow the explosion on land. The high oxygen level created giant insect and amphibia. The explanation in brackets is the ages they lived in extinct species. Note that Mya is million years ago. For example, "48.6～40.4 Mya" shows a range between 48.6 and 40.4 million years ago. The italic and bold figures, e.g. 488, show out of the range. The time range is shown in the Geological Time Table. The followings are a part of the Evolutionary Tree.
Carboniferous, Early Carboniferous, Late Carboniferous,
The right map is the continents at Early Carboniferous provided by C. R. Scotese PALEOMAP Project.
  • Kingdom Plantae (Plant)
    • Phylum Chlorophyta (Green algae)
      Green algae Receptaculites   (488～250 Mya; GDying①②), Stigmaria   (359.2～253.8 Mya; GDying②), Calamostachys   (326.4～265 Mya; GDying②), Sigillariostrobus (307.1～272.5 Mya)
    • Clade Tracheophytes (Vascular plants)
      Vascular plant Psilophyton   (412.3～318.1 Mya; GDying②), Sigillaria   (388.1～258 Mya; GDying②), Lepidodendron   (388.1～203.6 Mya; GDying②③), Archaeopteris   (388.1～318.1 Mya; GDying②), Protopitys (359.2～345.3 Mya), Lepidophloios (359.2～305 Mya), Calamites   (326.4～171.6 Mya; GDying③④), (Selaginella)   (318.1 Mya～; GDying③④⑤)
      Fern Caulopteris   (391.9～249.7 Mya; GDying②③), Rhacophyton   (388.1～318.1 Mya; GDying②), Cladoxylon   (388.1～345.3 Mya; GDying②), Sphenopteris   (388.1～70.6 Mya; GDying②③④), Sphenophyllum   (376.1～252.3 Mya; GDying②), Eremopteris   (359.2～272.5 Mya), Alloiopteris (359.2～284 Mya), Annularia   (359.2～245 Mya; GDying③), Equisetites   (359.2～99.6 Mya; GDying③④), (Horsetails)   (359.2 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), Pecopteris   (326.4～11.1 Mya; GDying③④⑤), Psaronius   (318.1～253.8 Mya), Callistophyton   (312～305 Mya), Dicksonites   (307.1～290 Mya)
    • Clade Spermatophyte (Seed plants)
      • Phylum Gymnosperms
        Conifer Cordaites   (383.7～228 Mya; GDying②③; ３０m), Araucarioxylon   (359.2～61.7 Mya; GDying③④⑤), Walchia (307.1～251 Mya), Lebachia   (305～161.2 Mya; GDying③④)
        Cycad Cyclopteris   (383.7～183 Mya; GDying②③④), Alethopteris   (359.2～112 Mya; GDying③④), Neuropteris   (349.5～145.5 Mya; GDying③④), Medullosa   (318.1～307.1 Mya), Pterophyllum   (302～99.6 Mya; GDying③④⑤)
        Ginkgo Trichopitys   (318.1～155.7 Mya; GDying③④)
  • Kingdom Animalia
    • Phylum unresolved
      Unknown animal Tullimonstrum   (311–306 Mya; Tully monster)
    • Subkingdom Parazoa
      • Phylum Porifera (Sponge)
        Sponge Chaetetes   (460.5～145.5 Mya; GDying①②③④)
    • Subkingdom Eumetazoa
      • Clade Radiata (Diploblastic - Two germ layers)
        • Phylum Cnidaria (Coral, Jelly fish)
          Coral Zaphrentis   (471.8～260.5 Mya; GDying①②), Syringopora (460.5～290 Mya; GDying①②), Pleurodictyum   (422.9～345.3 Mya; GDying②), Michelinia   (409.1～251 Mya; GDying②), (Fire corals)   (388.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Lithostrotionella   (359.2～299 Mya), Aulophyllum (345～279.5 Mya), Petalaxis (326.4～279.5 Mya)
          Jellyfish Sphenothallus   (542～345 Mya; GDying①②), Conularia   (468.1～228 Mya; GDying①②③), Paraconularia   (443.7～199.6 Mya; GDying②③)
      • Clade Bilateria (Triploblastic - Three germ layers)
        • Clade Protostomia (First mouth)
          • Phylum Arthropoda (Trilobite, Insect, Crustacean)
            Trilobite Phacops   (460.5～345.3 Mya; GDying①②), Ditomopyge (345.3～253.8 Mya), Ameura (326.4～290 Mya), Pseudophillipsia (302～251 Mya)
            Sea scorpion Adelophthalmus   (418.1～251 Mya; GDying②), Megarachne   (359.2～299 Mya), Campylocephalus (359.2～251 Mya), Hibbertopterus   (318.1～251 Mya), Mycterops (305～302 Mya)
            Horseshoe
            crab            		 Xaniopyramis (359.2～318.1 Mya), Euproops   (359.2～299 Mya), Valloisella (318.1～305 Mya), Liomesaspis   (318.1～270 Mya)
            Spider Eophrynus   (318.1～313.4 Mya), Cryptomartus   (318.1～299 Mya), Arthrolycosa   (300～250 Mya)
            Harvestmen Brigantibunum (336～332.9 Mya)
            Insect Delitzschala (359.2～318.1 Mya), Protophasma (359.2～299 Mya), Gerarus   (307.1～305 Mya), Spaniodera (307.1～305 Mya)
            Mayfly Rhabdoptilus (318.1～313.4 Mya), Breyeria (318.1～305 Mya), Mazothairos   (312～305 Mya; ５５cm), Sphecoptera (302～299 Mya), Diaphanoptera (302～299 Mya)
            Dragonfly Oligotypus (313.4～279.5 Mya), Mischoptera (312～299 Mya), Meganeura   (302～299 Mya; ７５cm), Stephanotypus (302～299 Mya)
            Grasshopper Archoblattina (307.1～305 Mya), Etoblattina (307.1～299 Mya)
            Cockroach Apthoroblattina (359.2～318.1 Mya), Archimylacris (359.2～299 Mya), Phyloblatta (307.1～299 Mya)
            Crustacean Tesnusocaris (318.1～306.5 Mya), Hesslerella   (318.1～299 Mya), Kallidecthes (311.7～303.9 Mya)
            Shrimp Gorgonophontes (305～302 Mya)
          • Phylum Brachiopoda (Lamp shells)
            Lamp shell (Lingula shells)   (488.3 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), Petrocrania   (471.8～260.5 Mya; GDying①②), Syringothyris   (422.9～251 Mya; GDying②③), Spiriferina   (422.9～171.6 Mya; GDying②③④), Cyrtospirifer   (391.9～305 Mya; GDying②), Neospirifer (339.4～251 Mya)
          • Phylum Mollusca (Limpet, Snail, Slug, Octopus, Squid)
            Hyolitha Hyolithes   (530～253.8 Mya; GDying①②), Hyoliths   (530～253.8 Mya; GDying①②)
            Gastropoda Maclurites   (488.3～203.6 Mya; GDying①②③), Michelinoceras   (479～203.6 Mya; GDying①②③), Bellerophon   (388.1～251 Mya; GDying②)
            Snail (Pagoda shells)   (460.9 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), (Pleurotomaria)   (428.2 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Cypraecassis)   (391.9 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Natica)   (388.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Turbo)   (388 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤)
            Cephalopod Orthoceras   (479～203.6 Mya; GDying①②③), Cyrtoceras   (460.5～345.3 Mya; GDying①②), Bactrites   (418.1～260.5 Mya; GDying②), Rayonnoceras (339.4～312 Mya)
            Nautilus Nautilus clarkanus (359.2～318.1 Mya), (Nautilus)   (359.2 Mya～; GDying③④⑤)
            Ammonite Actinoceras   (471.8～336 Mya; GDying①②), Goniatites   (409.1～332.9 Mya; GDying②)
            Bivalve (Nut clams)   (479 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), (Astarte)   (460.9 Mya～; GDying①②③④⑤), (Solemya)   (421.3 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Mytilus)   (418.7 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Pteria)   (418.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Aviculopecten   (409.1～216.5 Mya; GDying②③), (Lucina)   (388.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Cucullaea)   (376.1 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Pecten)   (349.5 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Pinna)   (349.5 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (File shells)   (312 Mya～; GDying③④⑤)
            Tusk shell (Dentalium)   (422.9 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), (Fissidentalium)   (359.2 Mya～; GDying③④⑤), (Antalis)   (345.3 Mya～; GDying③④⑤)
          • Phylum Annelida (Ringed worms)
            Ringed worm Arabellites   (460.5～353.8 Mya; GDying①②), Eunicites   (460.5～353.8 Mya; GDying①②)
        • Clade Deuterostomia (Second mouth)
          • Phylum Hemichordata (Acorn worms)
            Graptolite Callograptus   (501～345 Mya; GDying①②)
          • Phylum Echinoderm (Sea lily, Sea star, Brittle star, Sea urchin, Sea cucumber)
            Edrioasteroid Parapostibulla (318.1～312 Mya)
            Sea bud Lepidocystis   (516～299 Mya; GDying①②), Mesoblastus   (376.1～353.8 Mya; GDying②), Orophocrinus   (376.1～339.4 Mya; GDying②), Schizoblastus (359.2～345.3 Mya), Metablastus   (359.2～345.3 Mya), Pentremites   (359.2～318.1 Mya), Granatocrinus (349.5～345 Mya), Orbitremites (349.5～345 Mya), Diploblastus (342.8～332.9 Mya), Agmoblastus   (305～299 Mya)
            Sea lily Cladochonus   (443.7～260.5 Mya; GDying②), Cyathocrinites   (436～253.8 Mya; GDying②), Parisocrinus   (418.1～345 Mya; GDying②), Camptocrinus   (418.1～284 Mya; GDying②), Gilbertsocrinus   (418.1～345.3 Mya; GDying②), Synbathocrinus   (388.1～284 Mya; GDying②), Pachylocrinus   (376.1～345.3 Mya; GDying②), Forbesiocrinus   (376.1～342.8 Mya; GDying②), Platycrinites   (376.1～260.5 Mya; GDying②), Cryptoblastus (359.2～318.1 Mya), Actinocrinites (359.2～284 Mya), Agaricocrinus   (349.5～345.3 Mya), Parascytalocrinus   (349.5～342.8 Mya), Macrocrinus   (349.5～339.4 Mya), Scytalocrinus   (349.5～332.9 Mya), Allocatillocrinus   (336～279.5 Mya)
            Starfish Onychaster   (376.1～332.9 Mya; GDying②)
            Sea cucumber Achistrum   (409.1～99.6 Mya; GDying②③④)
          • Phylum Chordata (Vertebrates, Tunicates)
            • Subphylum Vertebrata
              • Superclass Agnatha (Oldest fishes, Hagfish, Lamprey)
              • Infraphylum Gnathostomata (Jawed vertebrates)
                • Class Placodermi (extinct group; 418.1～245 Mya) Armoured fish
                • Class Chondrichthyes (Ray, Shark; 466 Mya～) Cartilaginous fish
                  Cartilaginous fish Delphyodontos   (359.2～318.1 Mya), Chondrenchelys   (345～342.8 Mya), Echinochimaera   (328.3～318.1 Mya), Listracanthus   (326.4～245 Mya; GDying③), Iniopteryx   (318.1～299 Mya), Edestus   (318.1～260.5 Mya), Campodus   (302～299 Mya)
                  Shark Ctenacanthus   (409.1～251 Mya; GDying②), Tristychius (359.2～318.1 Mya), Sphenacanthus   (359.2～318.1 Mya), Falcatus   (326.4～312 Mya), Belantsea   (326.4～312 Mya), Stethacanthus   (326.4～279.5 Mya), Janassa   (326.4～260.5 Mya), Orodus   (302～290 Mya)
                • Class Acanthodii (extinct group; 421.3～255 Mya) Spiny sharks
                  Spiny shark Acanthodes   (409.1～284 Mya; GDying②)
                • Superclass Osteichthyes (Bony fish)
                  • Class Sarcopterygii (Four-limbed vertebrate, Coelacanth, Lungfish; 422.9 Mya～) Lobe-finned fish
                    Coelacanth Indonesian coelacanth   (410 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Comorese coelacanth   (410 Mya～; GDying②③④⑤), Rhabdoderma   (359.2～299 Mya), Allenypterus   (354～290 Mya), Caridosuctor   (328.3～318.1 Mya), Hadronector   (328.3～318.1 Mya), Polyosteorhynchus   (326～318 Mya)
                  • Class Actinopterygii (Most living fishes; 421.3 Mya～) Ray-finned fish
                • Class Amphibia
                  Primitive amphibia Oestocephalus   (359.2～299 Mya; Snake-like amphibia), Palaeomolgophis   (359.2～318.1 Mya), Adelospondylus   (359.2～318.1 Mya), Pederpes   (353.8～349.5 Mya), Crassigyrinus   (345.3～328.3 Mya), Pholidogaster   (336.8～323.2 Mya), Spathicephalus (326.4～318.1 Mya), Greererpeton   (326.4～312 Mya), Dendrerpeton   (318.1～313.4 Mya), Ophiderpeton   (318.1～312 Mya; Snake-like amphibia), Brachydectes   (318.1～305 Mya; Snake-like amphibia), Loxomma   (318.1～299 Mya), Diceratosaurus   (318.1～299 Mya), Tuditanus   (318.1～299 Mya), Amphibamus   (311.7-303.9 Mya), Microbrachis   (307.1-302 Mya), Phlegethontia   (307.1-305 Mya), Eryops   (305～272.5 Mya)
                  Ancestor of reptile Pteroplax   (359.2～299 Mya), Casineria   (339.4～336 Mya; Primitive amniotes), Westlothiana   (336～332.9 Mya; Primitive amniotes), Anthracosaurus   (311.7～306.5 Mya), Diplovertebron   (311.7～306.5 Mya), Pholiderpeton (318.1～311.7 Mya), Eogyrinus   (318.1～299 Mya), Proterogyrinus   (318.1～299 Mya), Diasparactus   (305～279.5 Mya), Limnoscelis   (305～279.5 Mya)
                • Class Synapsida (Mammal-like reptiles)
                  Mammal-like reptile Protoclepsydrops (318.1～313.4 Mya), Clepsydrops   (312～272.5 Mya), Archaeothyris   (307.1～305 Mya; Earliest mammal-like reptile), Ianthasaurus   (305～302 Mya; Large sail on back), Petrolacosaurus   (305～302 Mya), Archaeovenator   (305～299 Mya), Haptodus   (305～284 Mya), Oedaleops   (305～279.5 Mya), Ophiacodon   (305～272.5 Mya), Edaphosaurus   (302～272.5 Mya)
                • Class Sauropsida (Non mammal-like reptiles)
                  Primitive reptile Hylonomus   (318.1～313.4 Mya; Earlist reptiles), Paleothyris   (312～305 Mya)