The Ancients The Permian Extinction: When Life Nearly Died
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Sep 18, 2025 Join Professor Michael Benton, a leading paleontologist specializing in mass extinctions, as he explores the catastrophic Permian Extinction that occurred 250 million years ago. Discover how 97% of life was wiped out in what’s known as ‘The Great Dying.’ Benton delves into the diverse ecosystems and bizarre creatures of the period, the volcanic eruptions that triggered this crisis, and how a mere 3% of life survived, paving the way for the rise of dinosaurs. Get ready for a thrilling journey through deep time!
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Pareiasaurs And Saber-Toothed Predators
- Benton vividly describes giant Permian herbivores like pareiasaurs wallowing in mud and being hunted by saber-toothed gorgonopsians.
- He notes gorgonopsians could open their jaws extremely wide to drive their long saber teeth into prey.
Two Rapid Extinction Pulses Identified
- High-precision dating from zircons shows two rapid extinction pulses ~60,000 years apart around the Permian-Triassic boundary.
- The first pulse removed ~80% of species and a second pulse finished collapsing ecosystems, summing to ~96% extinction.
Global Ocean Anoxia Recorded In Black Sediments
- Marine sediments at the boundary went black and anoxic, indicating oxygen-starved seafloors and disrupted ocean circulation.
- Anoxia is signaled by pyrite and preserved organic carbon, showing organisms could no longer process the input of organic matter.
