The Ordovician period is the second of six of the Paleozoic era . It covers the time between about 488 million years to 444 million years ago . The Ordovician ( pronounced ) is a geologic period and system , the second of six of the Paleozoic Era , and covers the time between 488.3 Â 1.7 to 443.7 Â 1.5 million years ago .