Phanerozoic Eon

Life becomes "visible", or visibly larger

The Phanerozoic Eon (541 Ma - present) occurs after the Proterozoic Eon. We currently live in the Phanerozoic Eon, the Cenozoic Era, Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch.

Geologic Age

538.8±0.2 - 0.0 Ma

Subdivisions

Cenozoic Era: 65.5–0.0 Ma
Mesozoic Era: 251.0–65.5 Ma
Paleozoic Era: 541.0–251.0 Ma

What happened during this time?

13% of geologic history
Marked by the diversification of eukaryotic organisms
- Origin of land plants
- Origin of land invertebrates and vertebrates