BioConcepts

palaeozoicpaläozoisch (ger.)

• Of, relating to, or designating the earliest of the three geological eras characterized by abundant fossil remains (the first era of the Phanerozoic eon), between about 570 million and 245 million years ago, following the Proterozoic eon and preceding the Mesozoic era, and marked by the diversification of multicellular plants and animals in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. (OED 2012)
  category fossil see also cainozoic mesozoic

  1838

  Class II., or Palæozoic series.

  Sedgwick, A. (1838). A synopsis of the English series of stratified rocks inferior to the old red sandstone; with an attempt to determine the successive natural groups and formations. Proc. Geol. Soc. 2, 675-685: 685.

  1841

  The classification of animals is that used in the 'Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology,' and we include in the term 'Palæozoic,' all the generally argillaceous and araneceous strata between the mica schist and the old red-sandstone.

  [Phillips, J.] (1841). Organic remains. The Penny Cyclopædia, vol. 16, 487-491: 489; cf. id. (1841). Figures and Descriptions of the Palaeozoic Fossils of Cornwell, Devon, and West Somerset: 160.

  1841

  Palaeozoic strata

  [Phillips, J.] (1841). Saliferous System. The Penny Cyclopædia, vol. 20, 354-355: 355.

  1851

  The geological formations have sometimes been grouped and classified, in accordance with the predominant types of animals and vegetables which lived at the time of their depositions. The periods have accordingly been designated as- protozoic (protos, first; and zoe, life;) the period in which are found the first forms of animated existence; mesozoic (mesos, middle; and zoe, life;) the period of intermediate forms of life; and cainozoic (kainos, new; and zoe, life;) the period of most recent living forms.

  John, S. (1851). Elements of Geology: 127.

  1854

  We are accustomed to group all geological epochs under three great sections, the Palæozoic, or oldest, the Mesozoic or middle, and the Cainozoic, more commonly termed Tertiary, or newest

  Forbes, E. (1854). On the manifestation of polarity in the distribution of organized beings in time. Notes Proc. Roy. Inst. Great Britain 1, 428-433: 430.

  1854

  Palæzoic Period (Ancient Life)

  Page, D. (1854). Introductory Text-book of Geology: 39.

  1857

  Fossiliferous, or Sedimentary, rocks are divided into three great series,-

  The Palæozoic (most ancient forms of life), or Primary.

  The Mesozoic (middle life period), or Secundary.

  The Neozoic or Cainozoic (more recent forms of life), or Tertiary.

  Haydn, J.T. (1841/57). Dictionary of Dates: 289.