During the
Silurian period (409-439
MYA), the warm shallow waters near the shores of
continents became filled with life. Sponges formed great reefs,
which were able to grow and spread over the sea floor. Echinoderms like
sea lilies and starfish abounded, along with
trilobites and brachiopods.
These creatures
were so abundant that their remains amassed on the sea bed,
later to form fossiliferous limestone.
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