The Permo-Triassic Mass-extinction and the Earth´s Triassic Period

614 Words2 Pages

The Permo-Triassic mass-extinction was a key event in the history of the earth. (Paleobiology and Biodiversity Research Group). This has also been informally known as the Great Dying. The Permian-Triassic extinction occurred 251.4 million years ago, forming the boundary between the Permian and Triassic geologic periods. This event was also the last periods of the Paleozoic Era. After so many years scientist still have not found the true cause behind such a horrible event. Some scientist have suggested many possible causes for the extinction such as: severe volcanism, a nearby supernova, environmental changes caused by the formation of a super continent, the devastating impact of a large asteroid, or a combination of all of these put together ( Paleobiology and Biodiversity Research Group). This event is the earth’s most severe extinction in history, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrae species becoming extinct. The Permian-Triassic mass extinction is also the only know mass extinction of all insects. According to NASA no class of life was spared from...

Open Document