Myöhäisdevonin

Myöhäisdevonin is a term of Finnish origin that translates to "Late Devonian." It refers to the uppermost part of the Devonian period, a geological time span that occurred approximately 419.2 to 358.9 million years ago. This stage of the Devonian is characterized by significant geological, climatic, and biological events that shaped the course of evolution.

Geologically, the Late Devonian saw continued continental drift, with most of the Earth's landmasses coalescing into the supercontinent Pangaea. This led to vast, arid interiors in many continental regions, influencing sedimentation patterns and the development of terrestrial ecosystems. Climatically, the period is thought to have been generally warm, though there is evidence of fluctuating temperatures and potential cooling events towards the end of the Devonian.

Biologically, the Late Devonian was a crucial time for the diversification of both marine and terrestrial life. In the oceans, ammonites and placoderms (armored fish) were abundant. The first forests began to spread across the land, with tree-like plants like Archaeopteris becoming widespread. This expansion of plant life had a profound impact on atmospheric composition, contributing to oxygenation. Terrestrial vertebrates, the tetrapods, also made their appearance and began to diversify, evolving from lobe-finned fishes and showing adaptations for life on land. The Late Devonian is often referred to as the "Age of Fishes" due to the remarkable diversity and dominance of fish in marine environments. However, it also witnessed significant extinctions, particularly in the oceans, marking the end of this dynamic period and setting the stage for the Carboniferous.