What animals helped colonize the land?

Arthropods were among the first animals that successfully transitioned from water to land around 450 million years ago. This group includes insects, spiders, and millipedes.

Amphibians followed the arthropods onto land around 365 million years ago. They were able to survive in both water and on land.

Reptiles evolved from amphibians and were the dominant land animals for over 200 million years. They began to diversify around 320 million years ago. They gave rise to birds, mammals, and many extinct groups.

Birds evolved from feathered dinosaurs around 150 million years ago.

Mammals evolved from mammal-like reptiles around 225 million years ago.