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The Great Dying

By jadrurey
  • 450 BCE

    Ordovician-Silurian Extinction

    This extinction took place about 450 million years ago, killing about 60-70% of all species, with what could have been an ice age.
  • 375 BCE

    Late Devonian extinction

    This extinction started about 375 million years ago and lasted about 15 million years. It killed about 70% of life and is believed to be caused by some from of climate change.
  • Period: 299 BCE to 252 BCE

    Permian Period

    This period lasted from about 299 million years ago, to about 252 million years ago. Pangaea forms during this time, and due to this, the climate is dry. During this time, creatures known as Synapsids, which are closely related to modern day mammals, show up. They were later replaced with Therapsids, which later evolve into mammals. This period ends with the Permian-Triassic extinction, also known as the Great Dying, due to the large number of losses.
  • 252 BCE

    The Great Dying

    This was the largest mass extinction that took place about 252 million years ago, killing about 70% of land species, and 96% of all marine life. This mass extinction could have been caused by an extremely large volcanic eruption in modern day Siberia, spewing out greenhouse gasses, leading to a global warming, and ocean acidification. The cloud released by the volcano would also block out the sun, killing plants under the smoke. Scientists also believe that a comet could have been involved.
  • Period: 252 BCE to 201 BCE

    Triassic Period

    This period, lasting from about 252 million years ago, to 201 million years ago, started after the end of the largest mass extinction on earth. During this time, the land is very dry due to the formation of Pangaea, and reptiles start to appear, later evolving into the dinosaurs.
  • 201 BCE

    Triassic-Jurassic extinction

    This extinction took place about 201 million years ago, ending the Triassic period. It killed approximately 75-84% of all species, and may have been caused by global warming. Scientists believe that it could relate to the breaking apart of Pangaea.
  • 66 BCE

    Cretaceous-Tertiary/Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction

    This extinction took place about 66 million years ago, and is the one that killed off the dinosaurs. About 75% of species went extinct, and the extinction is believed to be caused by an asteroid striking the earth. This extinction also lead to the rise of mammals, and flowering plants.
  • 1 CE

    Modern Day

    Whether you know it or not, us humans are causing a 6th mass extinction. It has been going on ever since we started to hunt and farm. We have been killing animals, destroying habitats, and, now, releasing various greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, increasing ocean acidification, and creating global warming.