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Phanerozoic eon

Phanerozoic eon

9.9
A time in Earth's history from about 540 million years ago to now when many kinds of life appear
  • noun
  • /ˌfænəroʊˈzoʊɪk ˈiːɒn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : eón fanerozoico
  • The Phanerozoic eon includes well-known periods such as the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.

Examples

  • Life on Earth became abundant and complex during the Phanerozoic eon.

  • The Phanerozoic eon began approximately 540 million years ago.

  • Fossils found in the Phanerozoic eon display the remarkable diversity of ancient life.

  • During the Phanerozoic eon, life diversified significantly.

  • The Phanerozoic eon is characterized by the presence of diverse life forms throughout its history.

  • During the Phanerozoic eon, many significant evolutionary events occurred, including the emergence of mammals.

  • Scientists study the fossils from the Phanerozoic eon to understand the evolution of life on Earth.

Synonyms

Phanerozoic
vsPhanerozoic eon
  • Specialized
9.9

A long period of Earth's history starting about 540 million years ago when many animals and plants appear

is the same concept but expressed as the formal named geologic interval

Surface Forms

Phanerozoic eon singular
Phanerozoic eons plural

Morphology

Phanerozoic + eon

The phrase is simply a proper-name modifier plus the noun for a geological time unit: 'Phanerozoic' specifies which eon and 'eon' denotes the long geological time period. Given knowledge of both constituents (especially that 'Phanerozoic' names the eon starting ~540 million years ago), the overall meaning is directly derivable and not idiomatic.

Etymology

Phanerozoic eon comes from Greek words: phanero- meaning 'visible', -zoic meaning 'life', and eon meaning 'age'. So, the name paints a clear picture of an 'age of visible life', which is why it refers to the long time from about 540 million years ago to today when many animals and plants became common.