Silurian

Si·lu·ri·an  (s-lr-n, s-)

adj.

Of or belonging to the geologic time, system of rocks, or sedimentary deposits of the third period of the Paleozoic Era, characterized by the development of jawed fishes, early invertebrate land animals, and land plants. See Table at geologic time.

n.

The Silurian Period or its system of deposits.

---

[From Latin Silures, an ancient people of southwest Wales, where the rocks were first identified.]

---

Silurian [sile-yoor-ee-an]

Adjective

Geol of the period of geological time about 425 million years ago, during which fishes first appeared [after Silures, a Welsh tribe who opposed the Romans]

---

Silurian  (s-lr-n)

The third period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 438 to 408 million years ago. During this time glaciers that formed during the late Ordovician melted, causing sea levels to rise. The first coral reefs, fish with jaws, and freshwater fish appeared, and jawless fish continued to spread rapidly. The first vascular plants also appeared, as did land invertebrates including relatives of spiders and centipedes. See Chart at geologic time.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Silurian - from 425 million to 405 million years ago; first air-breathing animals Silurian period Paleozoic, Paleozoic era - from 544 million to about 230 million years ago