Phanerozoic

[ fan-er-uh-zoh-ik ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the eon comprising the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras.

adjective

of or relating to this eon.

Phanerozoic

/ ˌ��æ��ə��əˈ��əʊɪ�� /

adjective

of or relating to that part of geological time represented by rocks in which the evidence of life is abundant, comprising the Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras

noun

the Phanerozoic
the Phanerozoic era

Phanerozoic

The period of geologic time from about 540 million years ago to the present, including the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras. When this period of time was first defined, it was thought to coincide with the first appearance of life in the fossil record. It is now known that bacterial and other forms of life were present in the Precambrian Eon, and the Phanerozoic is understood to coincide with the appearance of life forms that evolved external skeletons.
See Chart at geologic time

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Phanerozoic¹

1925–30; < Greek ��󲹲Ա��ó ( s ) manifest, visible + zo- + -ic

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Our work also demonstrates a strong correlation between global temperature at CO2 concentrations across the Phanerozoic, highlighting the important role of this greenhouse gas in controlling Earth’s temperature."

From

Their models identify planets like Phanerozoic Earth as the most promising targets for finding life in the cosmos.

From

But otherwise little is certain, especially early in the Phanerozoic, which spans the past 541 million years.

From

Sometimes too you will see the term Phanerozoic used to describe the span encompassing the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic eras.

From

A putative geological Anthropocene epoch would be nested within the Quaternary period, Cenozoic era and Phanerozoic eon.

From

phanerophyte phano

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