Mass Extinctions Led to Low Species Diversity, Dinosaur Rule (IMAGE)
Caption
The mass extinction at the end of the Permian (about 252 million years ago) was the largest in Earth's history -- 70 percent of land-living vertebrates became extinct. This drastic biodiversity loss led to global 'disaster faunas' dominated by a small number of widespread surviving and newly evolving species. One of the most common animals at this time was Lystrosaurus, an early relative of mammals whose fossils are known from Russia, China, India, Africa and Antarctica.
Credit
Image courtesy of Victor O. Leshyk.
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content