The history of the evolution of life on Earth

The Earth would be about 4.54 Ga old (Ga = billions of years and Ma = millions of years), this consequent figure was cut into Eons > Eras > Periods > Epochs > Age. There are 4 eons, the current being the Phanerozoic and the three oldest forming the Precambrian supereon: the Hadean, the Archean and the Proterozoic.

Eon	Era	Period / System	Serie / Epochs	Major biologic events	Major geologic events	Other major events	Evolution of the phylogenetic tree
PHANEROZOIC PHANEROZOIC PHANEROZOIC PHANEROZOIC PHANEROZOIC PHANEROZOIC	CENOZOIC	Quaternary	Holocene	Fauna: -Disappearance of the mammoth (6,000 years old)					"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
			-11 000 years old
			Pleistocene	Fauna: -Greater extinction in mammals rather than megafauna (50-9 000 years old) -Disappearance of Neanderthal man (30 000 years old) -Great exchange of Inter-American Faunas (2.5 Ma)	Geology: -Implementation of the Panama Isthmus (2.5 Ma)	Glaciation: -Warming (15-10 000 years old) -Last glacial maximum in Europe (22-15 000 years old; Würm) -Interglacial, marine transgression "Tyrrhenian" -Glacial maximum (200-140 000 years; Riss) -Interglacial "main", marine transgression called "Sicilian" (340 000 years) -Glacial maximum (370,000 years; Mindel), marine regression known as "Calabrian" -Glacial maximum (700,000 years; Günz)
		-2,58 Ma					-2,58 Ma
		Neogene	Pliocene			Glaciation: -Appearance of ice on Greenland -First modern glaciations			"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
			-5,333 Ma
			Miocene	Flora: -Diversification of grasses Fauna: -Emergence of hominids (6.8 Ma; Sahelantropus) -Diversification of birds passerines (20 Ma)	Geology: -Major phase of the Andean and Himalayan Cordillera (20 Ma)	Biomes: -Appearance of steppes and savannas
		-23,03 Ma					-23,03 Ma
		Paleogene	Oligocene		Geology : -Formation of the Alps	Temperature: -Climates cold or arid leading to the appearance of steppes, savannas, grasslands			"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
			-33,9 Ma				-33,9 Ma
			Eocene	Flora : -Relatively extensive subtropical forests in latitudes Fauna : -Radiation of Neoaves -Appearance of almost all groups of modern mammals: Chiroptera, proboscidians, cetaceans and syrene (55 Ma) -Beginning of megafauna in response to cooling	Geology : -Formation of the Pyrenees -Collision between India and Eurasia forming the chain of the Himalayas (45 Ma)	Glaciation : -Beginning of a global cooling -Appearance of ice on the Antarctic (37 Ma), changing ocean circulation: "large break" (probable extinction of 20% of marine genera)			"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
			-56 Ma				-56 Ma
			Paléocène	Flora : -Dominance of angiosperms -Relatively large subtropical forests in latitudes Fauna : -Dominance of gastropods and bivalves on marine invertebrates -Dominance of osteichthyens and chondrichthyens on fish -Diversification of Neognaths during the Cenozoic -Diversification of placental mammals in relation to continental drift, separation of euarchontoglires (North America), laurasiatherians (Eurasia), Afrotherians (Africa) and Xenarthrans (South America) -Appearance of carnivores, primates and rodents (60 Ma) Plankton: -Large diversification of planktonic and benthic foraminiferous -Diversification of diatoms, dinoflagellates and coccolithes					"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
	-66 Ma			Extinction of the Cretaceous-Paleocene (from the KT limit) -76% of species (belemnites, rudists, plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, dinosaurs, flying reptiles and plants) -Crisis of plankton foraminiferes -Crisis of calcareous nannofossils -Collapse of ocean food chains		-Meteorite (Chicxulub) releasing atmospheric dust in the upper atmosphere and triggering rapid cooling and photosynthesis-damaging dimming -Trapps of the Deccan having several pulses before the KT limit, Releasing CO2, thus leading to warming and acidification -Reduction of coastal zones	Extinction of the KT limit -66 Ma
	MESOZOIC MESOZOIC	Cretaceous		Flora : -Radiation and predominance of angiosperms Plankton : -Diversification of coccolithes -Appearance of diatoms Fauna : -Appearance of heteromorphic ammonites but progressive extinction of ammonites until KT limit is extinguished -Appearance of Paleoganae and Galloanserae -Appearance of placentals and marsupials (140 Ma) -Radiation of acanthomorphs (spinous fin teleosts) (100 Ma) -Appearance of bees (110-100 Ma) -Appearance of snakes (120 Ma)	Geology : -The dislocation of the Gondwana first by the southern opening of the South Atlantic (120 Ma) -Dislocation of Laurasia at the same time -Beginning of the formation of the alpine chain	Sea : -Sea level rise Atmosphere: -2 times more CO2 than today -Much warmer temperatures Climate: -Wettest climate due to the burst of the Pangaea			"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
		-145 Ma					-145 Ma
		Jurassic		Flora : -Appearance of angiosperms Fauna : -Appearance of ammonites -New coral reefs of hexacoralliaries and rudists -Age of the dinosaurs and appearance of Archeopteryx sp. (ancestor of birds) -Appearance of birds (150 Ma) -Appearance of monotrems and multitubercules -Appearance of squamates (190-200 Ma)	Geology : -The continents go up to the north and the separation between Gondwana and Laurasia lead to the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean (170 Ma) -Appearance of the Pacific crust that pushes the terraced terranes on the American continent and forces the old plates to subduct					"Rhyniophyta"
		-201,3 ± 0,2 Ma		Extinction of the Triassic -50% of species (including the majority of Crurotarses)			Extinction of the Triassic -201,3 ± 0,2 Ma
		Triassic		Flora : -Plant hegemony (pro)gymnosperms and ferns, better adapted to heat and drought Plankton : -Abundant Dinoflagellates Fauna : -Diversification of the sauropsids -The Crurotarses (crocodilians) are the most diverse group in the Triassic -Appearance of lepidosaurs, pterosaurs, ceratitis and butterflies (220 Ma) -Colonization of freshwater habitatsby turtles, crocodiles, phytosaurs and rhynchosaurs (240 Ma) -Colonization of the seas by placodonts, sauropterygians, ichthyosaursand crocodilians (240 Ma) -Appearance of hymenoptera and diptera (240 Ma) -Appearance of teleostia, lissamphibians, archosaurs, ichthyosaurs and sauropterygians (250 Ma) Dinosaurs: -Appearance of the dinosaurs with a parasagittal posture (legs parallel to the body) -Diversification into saurischiens (pubis in front, carnivores and long-necked dinosaurs) and ornitischiens (pubis behind, herbívoros cuadrúpedos or semi-quadrupedas) -Progressive appearance of the feathers Mammals: -Appearance of mammals and diversification of Boreoeuterans on Laurasia while Atlantogenates diversify on Gondwana	Geology : -Dislocation of the Pangaea (245 Ma), the process continues today at the level of the Red Sea and the Great African Rift -Hercynian Chain entirely eroded	Atmosphere : -2 to 8 times more CO2 than today -Much warmer temperatures -Cooling climate and desertification of continents; major marine regression (245 Ma)			"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
	-252,17 ± 0,06 Ma			Permian-Triassic extinction -95% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species are disappearing (trilobites, rough and tabular in particular)	-Reduction of coasts and increase in desert area by the formation of the Pangaea	-Intense volcanism: Trapps of Siberia	Permian-Triassic extinction -252,17 ± 0,06 Ma
	PALEOZOIC PALEOZOIC PALEOZOIC	Permian		Life : -Extinction in continental environments of forms adapted to carbon forests -Habitat fragmentation and endemism Flora : -Diversification of conifers to the detriment of Pterodactyl Floras (280 Ma) -Appearance of cycadophytes (290 Ma) Fauna : -Appearance of ammonoids goniatites -Decline of large amphibians (290 Ma)	Geology : -Creation of the Pangaea (280 Ma) -Erosion of the variscan chain -Ingression of the ocean by the North in Europe thus formation of evaporates	Atmosphere : -Degrowth of oxygenation -Establishment of an arid climate in response to the formation of the Pangaea (280 Ma)			"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
		-298,9 ± 0,15 Ma					-298,9 ± 0,15 Ma
		Carboniferous		Flora : -Extensive forests with large coal accumulation -Appearance of conifers (310-315 Ma) -Diversification of spermaphytes, including glossopteridales (320 Ma) -Peak ferns and horsetails Fauna : -Age of crinoids -Appearance of beetles (300 Ma) -Appearance of the amniotic egg allowing water independence (310-315 Ma) -Appearance of exclusively terrestrial tetrapods (330 Ma)	Geology : -Hercynian orogeny (230-345 Ma)	Glaciation : -Glacial and interglacial phases -The ice sheet moves from western Gondwana to eastern Gondwana Atmosphere : -Maximum oxygen supply (350 Ma)			"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
		-358,9 ± 0,4 Ma		Devonian extinction (Kelwasser and Hangenberg) -Crisis of the marine fauna (chordae and arthropods)			Devonian extinction -358,9 ± 0,4 Ma
		Devonian		Flora : -*First trees and first large woodlands (Archaeopteris)* -Appearance of wood (375 Ma) -Appearance of tree plants (380-390 Ma) Fauna : -Necton Revolution -Appearance of the Chiridian member (370 Ma) -Conquest of continents continues: 1ers tetrapods -Appearance of synapsides and sauropsides -Appearance of insects (380-390 Ma) -Appearance of hexapods (395 Ma) -Appearance of myriapods, mites and scorpions (400 Ma) -Diversification of placoderms, acanthodians, dipnosts and actinists (360-410 Ma)	Geology : -Dismantling of the Caledonian chain (390-500 Ma) -Acadian orogeny	Atmosphere : -Increase in oxygen content		Homoscleromorpha<	"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
		-419,2 ± 3,2 Ma					-419,2 ± 3,2 Ma
		Silurian		Life : -Conquest of the terrestrial environment by plants and animals that must overcome constraints of gravity, reproduction and water Flora : -Appearance of vascular plants (420 Ma) Fauna : -Appearance of gnathostomes including placoderms, chondrichtyens, actinopterygians and sarcopterygians (420 Ma) -Appearance of jaw and anterior even appendages in vertebrates (430 Ma)	Geology : Caledonian orogeny, collision between Laurentia, Baltica and Avalonia			Homoscleromorpha<	"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
		-443,8 ± 1,5 Ma		Extinction of the Ordovician-Silurian -85% of species including 57% of marine genera		-Hirnantian glaciation (ordovician) at the south pole -Significant drop in sea level (-100 to -120m)	Extinction of the Ordovician-Silurian -443,8 ± 1,5 Ma
		Ordovician		Fauna : -GOBE (Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event), explosion of marine families -Lagerstätte de l’Ordovicien marocain -Diversification des Agnathes Armored Vertebrate Flora : -Appearance of terrestrial plants leading to soil formation: the topsoil (440 Ma)	Geology : -Maximum dispersion of continental plates	Atmosphere : -Strong cooling assuming warm Cambrian		Homoscleromorpha	"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
		-485,4 ± 1,9 Ma					-485,4 ± 1,9 Ma
		Cambrian		Fauna : -Appearance of vertebrates (500 Ma) -"Cambrian explosion", appearance of Comb jelly, siponcles, annelids, phoronidians, chaetognaths, onychophores, tardigrades, nematodes, priapulians, echinoderms, hemigords, myxins and trilobites (530-540 Ma) -Burgess fauna, apogee of arthropods Eucaryotes : -Biomineralization, appearance of the skeleton in several lineages (archaeocyates, arthropods, echinoderms, molluscs, brachiopodes and deuterostomians) (540-550 Ma)	Geology : -Rodinia splits into Gondwana + Baltica + Laurasia + Angara	Agronomic revolution : -Sediments become bioturbated because the Fauna becomes endo- in addition to epibenthic and nectonic, so the oxic/ anoxic limit stretches further into the first cm of sediment Atmosphere : -Concentration of O2 in the atmosphere -Chemical change in the atmosphere leads to increased incorporation of Ca and P into metabolism, resulting in biomineralization		Homoscleromorpha<	"Graptolithes"	"Rhyniophyta"
End of Precambrian -541 ± 1,0 Ma							-541 ± 1,0 Ma
PROTEROZOIC				Eukarya : -Doushantuo fauna (550 to 600 Ma): fossilized embryos, sponges, cnidaries, platelet worms and multicellular foliaceous algae -Appearance of sexual reproduction (1.5 Ga) -Appearance of chloroplasts (1,2-2 Ga) -Appearance of mitochondria and therefore eukaryotes (1,8-2 Ga) Fauna : -Wave of extinctions among early metazoans (540-550 Ma) -Ediacara fauna: explosive diversification of diploblastic metazoans: sponges and cnidars (560-570 Ma) -Appearance of bilaterians (600 Ma) -Appearance of multicellular eukaryotes (1 Ga)	Geology : -Cadomian orogeny (540-550 Ma) -Kenorland transformation to Columbia (2-1.8 Ga) then Rodinia (1.1 Ga - 760 Ma)	Atmosphere : -Marine transgression, warm climate and increased extent of epicontinental seas (life-supporting elements) (540-550 Ma) -70% solar radiation + CO2 drops leading to several short global glaciations called " Snowball Earth " (Marine Glaciation: 650 Ma; Sturtienne Glaciation: 720 Ma; Huronian Glaciation: 2.4 Ga) -High elevation of the O2 content in oceans and then atmosphere (1,8-2,6 Ga)			"Graptolithes"
-2,5 Ga							-2,5 Ga
ARCHEAN				Life : -Suspected occurrence of bacterial life (Cyanobacteria, -3.8 Ga; Vesicles; Bacteria aggregates?; Stromatolithes, 2.7 Ga; Isotopic evidence)	Geology : -Magmatic differentiation (sheath, core, mantle, crust) leading to several small proto-continents constituents Ur -Plate tectonics (3 Ga) turning Ur into Kenorland (2,5 Ga)	Atmosphere : -High greenhouse effect (40 to 80°C) -Reducing atmosphere revealed by pyrite rich sediments (FeS2) O2-free index
-3,8 Ga							-3,8 Ga
HADEAN				No life	Geology : -Young Earth still in " fusion " but beginning of crust formation (Rocks of Isua: 3.8 Ga) -Degassing of the mantle + collisions of comets (rich in water) => Ocean formation (4.4/4.3 Ga) -Acasta Gneiss (Canada) revealing alteration of the rocks and therefore the first marine sediments (4/3,8 Ga)	Atmosphere : -Intense volcanism and degassing (CO2, CO, CH4, N2, H2, HCl) Astronomy : -Formation of the moon by a bolide collision -End of the great late bombardment (3,9 Ga)
-4,54 Ga					Formation of the Earth		-4,54 Ga
-4,57 Ga / -4,6 Ga					Formation of the Sun
-13,2 Ga / -13,5 Ga					Formation of the Milky Way
-13,77 Ga					Formation of the universe