* Amphibians: Amphibians were the dominant land animals during the Carboniferous. They included a variety of forms, from small salamanders to large, crocodile-like creatures.
* Reptiles: Reptiles first appeared during the Carboniferous. They were small and lizard-like, but they would eventually evolve into the dinosaurs and other large reptiles that dominated the Mesozoic Era.
* Fish: Fish were abundant in the Carboniferous seas. They included a variety of forms, from small, bony fish to large, predatory sharks.
Invertebrates
* Arthropods: Arthropods were the most diverse group of animals during the Carboniferous. They included insects, spiders, scorpions, and millipedes.
* Mollusks: Mollusks were also abundant during the Carboniferous. They included clams, snails, and squid.
* Echinoderms: Echinoderms were common in the Carboniferous seas. They included starfish, sea urchins, and sea lilies.
Plants
* Ferns: Ferns were the dominant plants during the Carboniferous. They grew in vast forests that covered the land.
* Lycophytes: Lycophytes were another common group of plants during the Carboniferous. They included club mosses and scale trees.
* Seed plants: Seed plants first appeared during the Carboniferous. They would eventually become the dominant plants on land.