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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Catastrophic Sediment Pulse Linked To Deforestation
- Rock layers at the Permian-Triassic boundary show abrupt landscape change from meandering streams to huge alluvial fans full of boulders.
- Michael Benton links this worldwide sediment pulse to deforestation after acid rain rather than local tectonics.
Field Discovery In The Urals
- Benton recounts walking Russian Permian outcrops and seeing red clays give way to massive conglomerate crags and alluvial fans.
- He and Russian colleagues traced the boulders back to the Urals and debated whether uplift or deforestation caused the change.
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.
