Capitanian

What is the Capitanian?

The Capitanian is a special time in Earth's long history. It is part of something called the geologic timescale. This time happened a very, very long time ago, between 264.28 and 259.51 million years ago! Before the Capitanian was a time called the Wordian, and after it came the Wuchiapingian.

Where Did the Name Come From?

The Capitanian got its name from a big, beautiful reef called the Capitan Reef. This reef is in the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas, United States. A smart scientist first described this time way back in 1904. Now, scientists all over the world use the name Capitanian.

What Happened During This Time?

During the Capitanian, many plants and animals in the oceans disappeared. Scientists think this happened because the water had very little oxygen and changed in ways that made it hard for sea creatures to live. Later, life began to grow again as new animals moved into places left empty. The Capitanian helps us learn about how Earth and its creatures changed over millions of years.