Thursday, August 14, 2025

FROM 2015 - A CHANGE OF PACE

 Old post from 2015. I am not sure if this exhibit is there anymore, but I still found it very interesting to read about and I hope you do too.

One day we went to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach (We lived in Virginia Beach for two years back in the 80s and visited it several times after that. We always enjoyed going to the aquarium). As well as the abundance of marine life exhibits, there is another very interesting one about the Silurian age in Virginia. I have left links throughout so that you can read more info if you would like to.


I read: "The Silurian Period was 443.7 to 416.0 million years ago. It was at a time when the Earth underwent considerable changes that had important repercussions for the environment and life within it.  One result of these changes was the melting of large glacial formations. This contributed to a substantial rise in the levels of the major seas.  The Silurian witnessed a relative stabilization of the Earth's general climate, ending the previous pattern of erratic climate fluctuations."  


In the photo below it says: "Silurian Virginia was a hot, dry desert surrounded by warm, shallow seas.  Earth's first land dwellers appeared during this period, but most plants and animals still lived in the water.  Trilobites, sea scorpions and other arthropods shared the sea floor with brachiopods, clam-like organisms that were the most common shelled animals.  Above the bottom, bony-armored fishes and squid relatives cruised in search of prey.  On land, spiders, centipedes and worms lived among fungi and simple plants."


"Coral reefs made their first appearance during this time, and the Silurian was also a remarkable time in the evolution of fishes. Not only does this time period mark the wide and rapid spread of jawless fish, but also the highly significant appearances of both the first known freshwater fish as well as the first fish with jaws. It is also at this time that our first good evidence of life on land is preserved, such as relatives of spiders and centipedes, and also the earliest fossils of vascular plants."


"The Silurian is a time when many biologically significant events occurred.  In the oceans there was a widespread radiation of crinoids, a continued proliferation and expansion of the brachiopods, and the oldest known fossils of coral reefs.  As mentioned earlier this time period also marks the wide and rapid spread of jawless fish, along with the important appearances of both the first known freshwater fish and the jawed fish.  Other marine fossils commonly found throughout the Silurian record include trilobites, graptolites, conodonts, corals, stromatoporoids and mollusks."

I found the above fascinating information and much more at this website.  

I have also included two maps, one above and below, so that you can see the aquarium's location.

Thanks for looking and 
I hope your day is a great one.






28 comments:

  1. Denise, animals and anything to do with the ocean and marine life fascinates me. Thank 😊 you so much for sharing ❤️ dear friend.

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    1. Hello dear Linda, so glad you enjoyed this, it was a pleasure to share :)

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  2. That looks amazing and good to see as well, Denise.

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    1. Happy you thought so Margaret, thank you so much :)

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  3. What an interesting place this is. Thanks for sharing

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    1. It is a wonderful aquarium. I would recommend it to anyone. Thank you Ann :)

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  4. I am always very happy when I hear that people are using museums. No doubt many stayed away during COVID but I hope that attendance is surging upwards. This visit obviously impressed you, Denise.

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    1. Me too David! I hope the attendance is up again also. I found it very impressive David and study keeps the old brainbox working, lol! It is great to learn about many things, this was one of them.

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  5. This was very interesting to read, thanks for taking us along, I adore museums.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Hello Amalia, so glad you enjoyed and you are very welcome. I love these places too. Thank you! xox

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  6. I love aquariums...we visited one last December while spending Christmas with our daughter and son in law.
    Hugs Cecilia

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    1. That’s wonderful Cecilia, to spend time with your loved ones in such an interesting place. Sending hugs xox

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  7. Dear Denise :)
    I also enjoyed reading about your visit to the museum and this period in time and the exhibits.. I am recovering from COVID which I caught from my daughter Eva, who had it before me. Don't feel great.
    All the best
    Sonjia

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    1. Thank you Sonjia, and I am so sorry to learn about your bout with COVID. I wish you a speedy recovery. All the best to you too my friend :)

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  8. Thank you for your kindness towards me. It leaves me speechless and humbled.

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    1. Dear Regine, this is so sweet of you to say but I see in you a kindness too. Kindness gathers kindness my dear friend :) xox

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  9. Aquariums are fun and fascinating when you have great displays. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Geology is fascinating, but I know only a tiny bit about the earth's geology. I have a very fine trilobite fossil on the bookcase behind me.

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    1. I couldn’t agree more and how wonderful that you have a trilobite fossil on display. I truly wish I had one :)

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  11. Denise,
    Thank you for your kind words about my header...
    Hugs cecilia

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    1. Hi Cecilia, you are very welcome. I truly thought it was a great looking header :)

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  12. Great post.
    If I was ever near there I would definitely visit!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan, I would like to go again but it’s a bit too far for me theses days :)

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    1. Thank you my friend, and the best to you also :)

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  14. I was fascinated by trilobite fossils as a child. Never found one, but eventually I bought one.

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