During the Cambrian Explosion, around 541 million years ago, the first arthropods emerged, marking a major evolutionary milestone. These early arthropods, characterized by their segmented bodies and jointed limbs, quickly diversified in the oceans. Among them, trilobites became one of the most successful and diverse groups, dominating marine ecosystems for millions of years. With their hard exoskeletons and complex eyes, trilobites adapted to various ecological niches, showcasing the incredible evolutionary potential of arthropods. Their success paved the way for the vast diversity of arthropods we see today, from insects to crustaceans.
Compilation of these 2 videos :
Part one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RlY0IbF5vk
Part two - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNydzPQ6f-o
Music by Karl Casey : https://www.youtube.com/@UC_6hQy4elsyHhCOskZo0U5g
Illustrations by Satoshi Kawasaki and Ceri Thomas
Icons next to names indicate the diet :
🌱Seaweed / 🦠Bacteria/Micro-organisms / 🦐Plankton / 🦂Ancient arthropods / 🪱Invertebrates