Rule of the crustaceans

Approximately 145 million years ago, a little known evolutionary revolution took place. The crustaceous inhabitants of the oceans rose up to briefly dominate all other lifeforms. Among inhabitants, the period was known by the colloquial name, the "rule of claw".

Although the lobsters took to the life of ruling well, the barnacles were less supportive and, after a brief but vigorous mutiny, the Crustaceous Period came to an end with the crustaceans slinking back into the oceans to take their proper place in the ecological pecking order.

The Crustaceous Period is mostly neglected in descriptions of the geologic timescale, presumably because it only lasted eight months.