If you landed in a Devonian forest, you’d find some weird things! Plants had just developed wood trunks. That means you’d see the world’s first trees. But you wouldn’t spot any animals except insects. That’s because most life was underwater.

The Devonian’s massive oceans were filled with strange creatures. Huge sea scorpions flashed claws longer than your arm. Spiral shells protected squid-like ammonites. Fish with armor-like bodies may have grown as long as a car!

You’d find weird things in a Devonian forest! Plants had just gotten wood trunks. So you’d see the world’s first trees. The only animals you’d spot would be bugs. There was little animal life on land. Most animals lived in the oceans.

Oceans during this time were huge. They were filled with odd animals. There were giant sea scorpions. Their claws were longer than your arm. There were also squid-like animals. They lived in spiral shells. And there were fish with armored bodies. They may have grown as long as a car!

Devonian fish had armor for a reason! Many deadly creatures roamed the oceans during this time period. But the scariest one to meet would be a Dunkleosteus (dun-kuhl-AH-stee-us). This enormous armored fish had jaws with razor-sharp teeth. It could bite 16 times harder than a Nile crocodile. Yikes!

You’d be safe from this fierce fish on land. But don’t get too comfortable! At the end of the Devonian, most species went extinct. Scientists still aren’t sure why. Some scientists think that volcanoes may have spewed ash into the air, blocking the sun and changing the climate. Others believe an asteroid, or space rock, might have smashed into Earth!

Devonian fish had armor for a reason! Many deadly creatures lived in the oceans. But one was scarier than others. It was the Dunkleosteus (dun-kuhl-AH-stee-us). It was a huge armored fish. It had very sharp teeth. It could bite 16 times harder than a Nile crocodile. Yikes!

You’d be safe on land. But don’t get too cozy! Most animals during this time went extinct. They died out at the end of the Devonian. Scientists still aren’t sure why. Some blame volcanoes. They may have spewed ash into the air. The ash could have blocked the sun. That would have changed the climate. Others blame an asteroid. One of these space rocks may have crashed into Earth!

If you traveled back to the Devonian period, you might meet a very special creature. A 10-foot-long (3 meter) salamander-like animal flopped along the banks of muddy lakes. It was the first fish to crawl onto land! Scientists call it Tiktaalik (tik-TAH-lik). They consider it to be the first amphibian.

Tiktaalik developed bony fins and lungs that helped it survive outside of the water. It was the first vertebrate, or animal with a backbone, to do so. That means all birds, reptiles, and mammals eventually evolved from Tiktaalik—including humans! Without fish like it, we might not exist today.

A very special creature lived during this time. It looked like a salamander. It was 10 feet (3 meters) long. It flopped along the banks of muddy lakes. It was the first fish to crawl onto land! Scientists call it Tiktaalik (tik-TAH-lik). They think it was the first amphibian.

This animal grew bony fins and lungs. They helped it survive out of the water. It was the first vertebrate to do so. Birds, reptiles, and mammals also have a backbone. That means they all evolved from Tiktaalik. That includes people! We might not exist without this fish.

The climate during the Devonian was similar to today’s. There was enough oxygen to survive, and the temperature on land was likely a spring-like 63°F (17°C) all year long. But you might find it difficult to find food! There wouldn’t be any fruits or vegetables. Luckily, the ocean would be full of fresh fish. To cook, you could bring an axe to cut down trees and build a fire.

The Devonian’s most exciting sights would be underwater. Scuba gear would be a must-have. Make sure to bring a weapon to protect yourself! A harpoon might do the trick. When taking a dip in Devonian waters, there’s never a dull moment.

This period’s climate was similar to today’s. There was oxygen to breathe. The temperature was like a spring day. It was about 63°F (17°C) all year. But finding food might be hard! There were no fruits or vegetables. Luckily, the ocean would be full of fish. You could bring an axe to cut down trees. Then cook the fish over a fire.

The coolest sights would be in the ocean. Scuba gear would be a must. And make sure to bring a harpoon. You need to protect yourself! Taking a dip in Devonian waters wouldn’t be boring.