Question

What are the big 5 mass extinctions?

Answer 1

The big 5 mass extinctions:

1. Mass extinction refers to the event in which species disappear rapidly on the earth.
2. It has a sharp impact on biodiversity.
3. The mass extinction period happened 65 million years ago and approx 50% of animals and plants disappeared from the earth.

a) The Ordovician-Silurian Extinction:

1. The first mass extinction period was the Ordovician-Silurian Extinction which happened approx 440 million years ago.
2. In the first extinction, small marine organisms died.

b) The Devonian Extinction:

1. The second mass extinction period was the Devonian Extinction which happened approx 365 million years ago.
2. In the second extinction, mainly tropical marine organisms got extinct.

c) The Permian-Triassic Extinction:

1. The third mass extinction period was the Permian-Triassic Extinction which happened approx 250 million years ago.
2. In the third extinction, a wide range of species mainly vertebrates got extinct and it was the largest extinction.

d) The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction:

1. The fourth mass extinction period was the Triassic-Jurassic extinction which happened approx 210 million years ago.
2. In the third extinction, other vertebrates disappeared.

e) The Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction:

1. The fifth and last extinction period was the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction or KT extinction which happened approx 65 million years ago.
2. In the fifth extinction, about 76% of species were wiped out.