The 5 Major Extinctions of Our Planet

An extinction event (also known as a mass extinction or biotic crisis) is a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth. Such an event is identified by a sharp change in the diversity and abundance of multicellular organisms. It occurs when the rate of extinction increases with respect to the background extinction rate and the rate of speciation. Estimates of the number of major mass extinctions in the last 540 million years range from as few as five to more than twenty. These differences stem from disagreement as to what constitutes a "major" extinction event, and the data chosen to measure past diversity.

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[Lil_Agent-]

Cause:
1. Cooling climate or changes in oxygenation of the ocean
2. changes in sea level and ocean anoxia, possibly triggered by global cooling or oceanic volcanism
3. Warming of the Earth's climate and associated changes to oceans
4. volcanic eruptions in the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP)
5. You know how that happened

[Idiot_Nation]

The way you said “the one that killed the dinosaurs”
Sounds so emotional
Amazing

[manumudgal]

People : real life lore is boring

Real life lore:

[Asher-mwzo]

The Permian one is terrifying. Life was so close to completely disappearing.

[CassidyTakanauf]

Is no one gonna mention the clear narration and the cool animation?

[YearsInTheJint]

"there were over a dozen extinction level events before even the dinosaurs got theirs" -Ultron

[robertoehler]

The most questioned aspect of the extinctions is the time duration they respectively occurred.

[MrShark-wfxy]

What if Venus had a mass extinction and it’s still in the aftermath from the extinction

[rogue]

I remember this topic from our GenBio class when I was in senior high school. We were asked to draw a Geologic Time Scale as homework. I also remember the teacher saying that humans will probably experience the same extinction that killed dinosaurs in the previous years. Scientists already have proof that the sixth extinction is about to happen.

[thedoctorofcringe]

Apparently, i never learned about the Devonian Extinction or wasn't given enough details to keep it memorable. Time to learn all about it myself

[BruceThaJuiceBanner]

The fact we can illustrate eons of magnanimous change in ~30sec blows my mind > an f5 sweeping thru a neuroscience lab..

[Lionelpepsi-LP]

The Permian Extinction, also known as the "Great Dying, " was the most severe mass extinction event in Earth's history. It occurred about 252 million years ago at the end of the Permian period and wiped out around 90% of marine species and 70% of land species.

Causes (Theories)

Scientists believe a combination of catastrophic events led to the extinction, including:

1. Massive Volcanic Eruptions (Siberian Traps)

Huge lava flows in present-day Siberia released massive amounts of CO₂ and methane, causing extreme global warming.

Acid rain and air pollution devastated ecosystems.



2. Climate Change & Ocean Anoxia

Global temperatures rose by 10°C (18°F), making life unbearable for many species.

Oceans became depleted of oxygen, suffocating marine life.



3. Methane Release from the Ocean

Warming oceans may have triggered the release of methane clathrates, a powerful greenhouse gas that worsened climate change.



4. Asteroid Impact (Possibly)

Some evidence suggests a meteor impact may have contributed, similar to the one that killed the dinosaurs.




Effects

Coral reefs and marine ecosystems collapsed.

Forests and plant life were devastated, leading to the extinction of many herbivores.

The food chain was shattered, and it took millions of years for life to recover.


Aftermath & Recovery

Despite the devastation, the Permian Extinction paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs in the following Triassic period. The surviving species evolved and adapted, leading to new ecosystems that shaped Earth's future.

It's considered a warning sign of what extreme climate change can do to life on Earth. Some scientists worry that current human-driven climate change has eerie similarities to what happened back then.

The Late Devonian Extinction was one of Earth's five major mass extinctions, occurring around 375–359 million years ago. It wasn’t a single event but rather a prolonged period of biodiversity loss that lasted several million years, wiping out about 75% of all species—especially in marine environments.

Causes (Theories)

Scientists believe multiple factors contributed to this extinction:

1. Ocean Anoxia (Lack of Oxygen)

Rapid plant growth (due to the rise of land plants) increased nutrient runoff into oceans.

This caused massive algal blooms, leading to oxygen depletion and suffocating marine life.



2. Climate Change (Cooling & Warming Cycles)

Earth experienced glaciations (ice ages) followed by warming periods.

Sea levels fluctuated dramatically, disrupting marine habitats.



3. Volcanic Eruptions

Massive volcanic activity released CO₂ and sulfur gases, triggering climate changes and ocean acidification.



4. Asteroid or Comet Impact (Possibly)

Some evidence suggests an impact event, similar to the one that killed the dinosaurs, may have contributed.




Effects

Coral reefs were devastated and took nearly 100 million years to recover.

Many early fish species, including armored placoderms (like Dunkleosteus), went extinct.

Reef-building organisms and certain trilobites also disappeared.

Terrestrial ecosystems were affected but less severely than marine life.


Aftermath & Recovery

The extinction cleared the way for new vertebrates, including early amphibians that would eventually evolve into land-dwelling animals.

The loss of dominant marine species allowed new groups, like bony fish, to diversify.


Though not as extreme as the Permian Extinction, the Late Devonian event significantly reshaped life on Earth and set the stage for future evolutionary changes.The Ordovician-Silurian Extinction, occurring about 443 million years ago, was the first of Earth's five major mass extinctions. It wiped out 85% of all species, primarily affecting marine life since most life at the time was in the oceans.

Causes (Theories)

1. Glaciation & Sea Level Drop

A sudden ice age, possibly triggered by changes in CO₂ levels, caused massive glaciers to form.

This led to sea levels dropping, destroying shallow marine habitats where most organisms lived.



2. Global Cooling & Ocean Changes

Cooler temperatures affected ocean currents and reduced oxygen levels, making survival difficult for many species.

Many warm-water species couldn’t adapt to the colder conditions.



3. Volcanic Activity & Weathering

Increased volcanic activity may have caused silicate rock weathering, which pulled CO₂ from the atmosphere, worsening the global cooling.



4. Gamma-Ray Burst Hypothesis (Unproven)

Some scientists speculate that a nearby gamma-ray burst from a dying star could have stripped Earth’s ozone layer, exposing life to deadly radiation.




Effects

Trilobites, brachiopods, and coral reefs were among the hardest-hit groups.

The cooling phase caused many species to go extinct, but when the ice melted, it triggered rapid global warming, further stressing ecosystems.

Despite the devastation, some species survived and later diversified in the Silurian period.


Aftermath & Recovery

The extinction paved the way for the rise of fish, including jawless and early jawed species.

Surviving species adapted to new environments, leading to major evolutionary changes.

Though recovery took millions of years, life rebounded, setting the stage for future complex ecosystems.


The Ordovician Extinction serves as a reminder of how climate shifts can have devastating effects on biodiversityThe K-T Extinction (Cretaceous-Paleogene or K-Pg Extinction) occurred 66 million years ago and is famous for wiping out the dinosaurs, along with about 75% of all species on Earth. It marked the end of the Mesozoic Era and the beginning of the Cenozoic Era, leading to the rise of mammals.

Causes

1. Asteroid Impact (Chicxulub Crater, Mexico)

A 10-15 km (6-9 mile) wide asteroid struck the Yucatán Peninsula, creating a 180 km (110 mile) crater.

The impact released the energy of billions of atomic bombs, causing wildfires, tsunamis, and a "nuclear winter" effect.

Dust and sulfur aerosols blocked sunlight, cooling the planet and disrupting photosynthesis.



2. Massive Volcanic Activity (Deccan Traps, India)

Huge volcanic eruptions in India spewed CO₂ and sulfur gases, worsening climate instability.

This may have already stressed ecosystems before the asteroid hit.



3. Climate Change & Food Chain Collapse

The asteroid impact and volcanic activity combined to cause global cooling, acid rain, and wildfires.

Plants and plankton died off, collapsing food chains from the bottom up.




Effects

Non-avian dinosaurs went extinct, along with marine reptiles like mosasaurs and ammonites.

Mammals, birds, and some reptiles survived, allowing them to evolve and take over new ecological roles.

The loss of large predators and herbivores reshaped ecosystems, leading to the rise of modern mammals.


Aftermath & Recovery

Within a few million years, mammals diversified, evolving into the dominant land animals.

Birds, the only surviving dinosaurs, thrived and adapted to new environments.The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction, which occurred about 201 million years ago, was one of Earth’s five major mass extinctions. It wiped out about 75% of species, clearing the way for the rise of the dinosaurs in the Jurassic period.

Causes (Theories)

1. Massive Volcanic Eruptions (Central Atlantic Magmatic Province - CAMP)

A huge volcanic event, linked to the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, released enormous amounts of CO₂ and sulfur gases.

This caused global warming, ocean acidification, and toxic atmospheric conditions.



2. Climate Change & Ocean Disruption

Rising CO₂ levels led to a greenhouse effect, increasing global temperatures.

Oceans became anoxic (lacking oxygen), leading to widespread marine extinctions.



3. Methane Release Hypothesis

Some scientists suggest that warming released methane from ocean sediments, further intensifying climate change.



4. Possible Asteroid Impact

Some evidence suggests an asteroid or comet impact may have played a role, though it’s not as well-supported as volcanic activity.




Effects

Many amphibians, early reptiles, and large marine species went extinct.

The extinction wiped out most competitors of dinosaurs, allowing them to dominate the Jurassic period.

Conodonts, an important group of early jawless fish, completely disappeared.


Aftermath & Recovery

Dinosaurs rapidly diversified, eventually becoming the dominant land animals.

Marine ecosystems recovered with new species like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.

The world’s climate stabilized, leading to the lush environments of the Jurassic period.


This extinction was crucial in shaping the future of life, as it set the stage for the Age of Dinosaurs!

[kathlenegeronga]

Don’t forget the Pre Cambrian/ Pre Ordovician, the Late Ordovician, the Late Devonian, the Triassic-Jurassic, and the Cretaceous-Tertiary. But they weren’t as bad as the Permian/The Great Dying Edit: oops I put this on the wrong video but eh, it’s okay

[meltedicecreamsandwich]

What about the currently ongoing extinction

[JOHN_FOES]

Number 6 is when caseoh did jumping jacks

[nunitostaymaccin]

Where can I find full video of this???

[Astronuat-lx]

He didn’t waste all the major extinctions of our planet he forgot “ the great dying”

[prof.simonen.brandao]

Great short! But you forgot the very first onde, the great oxidation event, around 2.5 billion years ago

[Jharen_ytstudios]

Did you know about MonsterVerse Godzilla he is 252 million years old since he was alive in the permian to triassic period

[Eatmychanel]

Are there any movies or documentaries on these topics five please 🙏🏾