Sea levels in the Permian were low and near shore environments were limited by the collection of almost all major landmasses into a single continent -- Pangea?. One continent -- even a large continent -- has less shoreline than six to eight smaller ones. The Permian ended with the most extensive extinction event recorded in paleontology. 90%-95% of marine species became extinct. There is very modest evidence that the extinction was caused by weather changes due to impact by a large meteor. Land life in the Permian included diverse plants, large amphibians and large reptiles including the ancestors of the dinosaurs. The first modern trees -- conifers -- appeared in the Permian. Permian marine deposits are rich in mollusks, echinoderms and brachiopods. The last trilobites died out before the end of the Permian. |
Sea levels in the Permian were low and near shore environments were limited by the collection of almost all major landmasses into a single continent -- Pangea?. One continent -- even a large continent -- has less shoreline than six to eight smaller ones. The Permian ended with the most extensive extinction event recorded in paleontology. 90%-95% of marine species became extinct. There is very modest evidence that the extinction was caused by weather changes due to impact by a large meteorite. Land life in the Permian included diverse plants, large amphibians and large reptiles including the ancestors of the dinosaurs. The first modern trees -- conifers -- appeared in the Permian. Permian marine deposits are rich in mollusks, echinoderms and brachiopods. The last trilobites died out before the end of the Permian. |
During the Permian, all the Earth's major land masses except portions of East Asia were collected into a single landmass known as Pangea?. Pangea? straddled the equator. Deserts seem to have been widespread in Pangea?. |
During the Permian, all the Earth's major land masses except portions of East Asia were collected into a single landmass known as Pangea?. Pangea? straddled the equator. Deserts seem to have been widespread in Pangea?. |