Scientists discover a sixth mass extinction which happened 260million years ago

Scientists believe they’ve discovered a sixth mass extinction on Earth.

Experts at China‘s Nanjing University, together with New York University’s Department of Biology, believe a volcanic eruption devastated the planet during the Middle Permian period.

This took place in south Asian, near Burma, some 260million years ago and potentially raises the total number of extinctions in the geologic record. 

Previously, historians believed there were five geological eras defined by extinction: the Ordovician, the Late Devonian, the Permian, the Triassic and the Cretaceous.     

Experts at China’s Nanjing University, together with New York University’s Department of Biology, believe a volcanic eruption devastated the planet during the Middle Permian period

The first of these, around 540 million years ago, was probably the second most severe. Virtually all life was in the sea at the time and around 85 per cent of these species vanished. 

The most recent happened when an asteroid slammed down on Earth 66 million years ago, and is often blamed for ending the reign of the dinosaurs.

However, a previously-unknown eruption is thought to have taken place between these two chronological markers. 

‘It is crucial that we know the number of severe mass extinctions and their timing in order to investigate their causes,’ explains Michael Rampino, a professor in New York University’s Department of Biology said in journal Historical Biology. 

Previously, historians believed there were five geological eras defined by extinction: the Ordovician, the Late Devonian, the Permian, the Triassic and the Cretaceous

‘Notably, all six major mass extinctions are correlated with devastating environmental upheavals—specifically, massive flood-basalt eruptions, each covering more than a million square kilometers with thick lava flows.’  

The incident is believed to have also created the Emeishan Traps, a dramatic rock formation in southern China.   

‘Massive eruptions such as this one release large amounts of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide and methane, that cause severe global warming, with warm, oxygen-poor oceans that are not conducive to marine life,’ Rampino adds.

‘In terms of both losses in the number of species and overall ecological damage, the end-Guadalupian event now ranks as a major mass extinction, similar to the other five.’

WHEN WERE EARTH’S FIVE GREAT EXTINCTION EVENTS?

Five times, a vast majority of the world’s life has been snuffed out in what have been called mass extinctions.

End-Ordovician mass extinction
The first of the traditional big five extinction events, around 540 million years ago, was probably the second most severe. Virtually all life was in the sea at the time and around 85% of these species vanished.

Late Devonian mass extinction

About 375-359 million years ago, major environmental changes caused a drawn-out extinction event that wiped out major fish groups and stopped new coral reefs forming for 100 million years.

Five times, a vast majority of the world’s life has been snuffed out in what have been called mass extinctions. The most famous may be the End-Cretaceous, which wiped out the dinosaurs. Artist’s impression

End-Permian mass extinction (the Great Dying)
The largest extinction event and the one that affected the Earth’s ecology most profoundly took place 252 million years ago. As much as 97% of species that leave a fossil record disappeared forever.

End-Triassic mass extinction
Dinosaurs first appeared in the Early Triassic, but large amphibians and mammal-like reptiles were the dominant land animals. The rapid mass extinction that occurred 201 million years ago changed that.

End-Cretaceous mass extinction

An asteroid slammed down on Earth 66 million years ago, and is often blamed for ending the reign of the dinosaurs.