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Carboniferous Period: The World's a Jungle

In the Carboniferous Period of 360 to 286 million years ago, large, swampy jungles spread lungs across much of the earth. The planet's average temperature was much higher than it is today and the air was humid, making conditions perfect for plants to thrive.

Plants such as the giant club moss and best quotes) horsetail fern grew increasingly large. They developed thicker trunks and reached heights of 70 and 80 feet. Also, the first trees, known as gymnosperms, began to appear. Gymnosperms are trees like the pine and the ginkgo, which have protected seeds.

At the same time, flying insects like giant dragonflies with two-foot wingspans darted between the vines and branches of the jungles. On the ground, a more interesting development was taking place. Scientists believe lobe-finned fish -- with their muscular fins and primitive -- were becoming the first amphibians (animals that could spend time both in and out of the water best quotes).