phylogeny
evolutionary lineage
homologous structures
similar characteristics of organisms that are due to their shared ancestry
vestigial structures
structures in certain organisms that have resulted from evolution under selective pressure
epochs
tens of thousands to millions of years
periods
millions to tens of millions of years
eras
tens of millions to hundreds of millions of years
eons
hundreds of millions to billions of years
cratons
cores of extremely ancient rock that continents are built around
Rodinia
the first known supercontinent
orogeny
a tectonic episode characterized by mountain building