The Paleozoic era was a geological era that spanned from about 541 million years ago to about 252 million years ago. It was the first era of the Phanerozoic eon, which is the current eon on Earth. The Paleozoic era is known for the emergence and diversification of many complex life forms, including the first land plants, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and early forms of vertebrates. It is also characterized by significant geological events such as the formation of supercontinents, extensive mountain-building events, and multiple global glaciations. The era ended with a mass extinction event known as the Permian-Triassic extinction event, which wiped out a large number of species and marked the transition to the next era, the Mesozoic era.
