The Cambrian Explosion was a relatively short period of time, lasting about 10 million years, during which most of the major animal phyla first appeared in the fossil record. The cause of this rapid diversification of life is still debated, but some of the proposed explanations include changes in environmental conditions, such as an increase in oxygen levels or a decrease in temperature; the evolution of new predators, which forced other animals to adapt and diversify; and the development of new genetic mechanisms, which allowed for more rapid evolution. The Cambrian Explosion was a pivotal moment in the history of life on Earth, and its causes are still being studied and debated today.
