List of extinction events

This is a list of extinction events, both mass and minor:[1]

Major extinction events (see graphic)

% Marine extinction intensity during the Phanerozoic

P–Tr

Cap
O–S Tr–J K–Pg
Late D (H)

Millions of years ago

The blue graph shows the apparent percentage (not the
absolute number) of marine animal genera becoming
extinct during any given time interval. It does not
represent all marine species, just those that are readily
fossilized. The labels of the traditional "Big Five"
extinction events and the more recently recognised
Capitanian mass extinction event are clickable links;
see Extinction event for more details. (source and
image info)
Period or
Extinction Date Probable causes[2]
supereon
c.
Holocene 10,000
Humans[3]
extinction BC –
Ongoing

Quaternary 640,000,
74,000,
Quaternary
and Unknown; may include climate changes, massive volcanic
extinction
event
13,000 eruptions and Humans (largely by human overhunting)[4][5][6]
years
ago
Pliocene–
Pleistocene Possible causes include a supernova[7][8] or the Eltanin
2 Ma
boundary impact[9][10]
Neogene extinction
Middle Climate change due to change of ocean circulation patterns.
Miocene 14.5 Ma
Milankovitch cycles may have also contributed[11]
disruption
Eocene–
Oligocene Multiple causes including global cooling, polar glaciation, falling sea
Paleogene 33.9 Ma
extinction levels, and the Popigai impactor[12]
event
Cretaceous–
Paleogene Chicxulub impactor; the volcanism which resulted in the formation
66 Ma
extinction of the Deccan Traps may have contributed.[13]
event
Cenomanian- Most likely underwater volcanism associated with the Caribbean
Cretaceous
Turonian large igneous province, which would have caused global warming
94 Ma
boundary
and acidic oceans[14]
event
Aptian
117 Ma Unknown, but may be due to volcanism of the Rajmahal Traps[15]
extinction
End-Jurassic
(Tithonian) 145 Ma Impactor and/or Volcanism?[16]
Jurassic extinction
Toarcian
183 Ma Formation of the Karoo-Ferrar Igneous Provinces[17]
turnover
Triassic–
Jurassic Possible causes include gradual climate changes, volcanism from
201 Ma
extinction the Central Atlantic magmatic province[18] or an impactor[19]
Triassic event
Carnian
230 Ma Wrangellia flood basalts,[20] or the uplift of the Cimmerian orogeny
Pluvial Event
Permian– Unknown. Possibilities include volcanism from the Siberian
Triassic
252 Ma Traps,[21] an impact event (the Wilkes Land Crater),[22] an Anoxic
extinction
event event,[23] an Ice age,[24] or other possible causes

End-
Permian
Capitanian
260 Ma Volcanism from the Emeishan Traps,[25] resulting in global cooling
extinction and other effects
event
Olson's
270 Ma Unknown. Possibly a change in climate.
Extinction
Carboniferous Carboniferous 305 Ma Possiblities include a series of rapid changes in climate, or
rainforest volcanism of the Skagerrak-Centered Large Igneous Province[26]
collapse
Late
375–360
Devonian Devonian
Ma Viluy Traps;[27] Woodleigh Impactor?[2]
extinction

Lau event 420 Ma Changes in sea level and chemistry?[28]

Silurian Mulde event 424 Ma Global drop in sea level?[29]

Ireviken event 428 Ma Deep-ocean anoxia;[30] Milankovitch cycles?[31]

Ordovician–
Silurian 450–440 Global cooling and sea level drop, possibly caused by a Gamma-
Ordovician
extinction Ma ray burst,[32] or global warming related to volcanism and anoxia[33]
events
Cambrian–
Ordovician
488 Ma Kalkarindji Large Igneous Province?[34]
extinction
event
Dresbachian
Cambrian
extinction 502 Ma
event
End-Botomian
extinction 517 Ma
event
End-Ediacaran
542 Ma Anoxic event[35]
extinction
Precambrian Great Rising oxygen levels in the atmosphere due to the development of
Oxygenation 2400 Ma photosynthesis as well as possible Snowball Earth event. (see:
Event Huronian glaciation.)

Timeline

References
1. Partial list from Image:Extinction Intensity.png
2. Bond, David P. G.; Grasby, Stephen E. (2017-07-15). "On the causes of mass extinctions" (ht
tps://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2016.11.005). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology. Mass Extinction Causality: Records of Anoxia, Acidification, and Global
Warming during Earth's Greatest Crises. 478: 3–29. Bibcode:2017PPP...478....3B (https://ui.
adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017PPP...478....3B). doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.11.005 (https://doi.
org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2016.11.005). ISSN 0031-0182 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/003
1-0182).
3. Ripple WJ, Wolf C, Newsome TM, Galetti M, Alamgir M, Crist E, Mahmoud MI, Laurance WF
(13 November 2017). "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice" (https://doi.
org/10.1093%2Fbiosci%2Fbix125). BioScience. 67 (12): 1026–1028.
doi:10.1093/biosci/bix125 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbiosci%2Fbix125). "Moreover, we
have unleashed a mass extinction event, the sixth in roughly 540 million years, wherein
many current life forms could be annihilated or at least committed to extinction by the end of
this century."
 4. Sandom, Christopher; Faurby, Søren; Sandel, Brody; Svenning, Jens-Christian (4 June
2014). "Global late Quaternary megafauna extinctions linked to humans, not climate
change" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4071532). Proceedings of the
Royal Society B. 281 (1787): 20133254. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.3254 (https://doi.org/10.109
8%2Frspb.2013.3254). PMC 4071532 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4071
532). PMID 24898370 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24898370).
5. Vignieri, S. (25 July 2014). "Vanishing fauna (Special issue)" (https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fsci
ence.345.6195.392). Science. 345 (6195): 392–412. Bibcode:2014Sci...345..392V (https://ui.
adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014Sci...345..392V). doi:10.1126/science.345.6195.392 (https://do
i.org/10.1126%2Fscience.345.6195.392). PMID 25061199 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
25061199). "Although some debate persists, most of the evidence suggests that humans
were responsible for extinction of this Pleistocene fauna, and we continue to drive animal
extinctions today through the destruction of wild lands, consumption of animals as a
resource or a luxury, and persecution of species we see as threats or competitors."
6. Oppenheimer, Clive (2002-08-01). "Limited global change due to the largest known
Quaternary eruption, Toba ≈74kyr BP?" (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S02
77379101001548). Quaternary Science Reviews. 21 (14): 1593–1609.
Bibcode:2002QSRv...21.1593O (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002QSRv...21.1593O).
doi:10.1016/S0277-3791(01)00154-8 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0277-3791%2801%2900
154-8). ISSN 0277-3791 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0277-3791).
7. Benitez, Narciso; et al. (2002). "Evidence for Nearby Supernova Explosions". Phys. Rev.
Lett. 88 (8): 081101. arXiv:astro-ph/0201018 (https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0201018).
Bibcode:2002PhRvL..88h1101B
(https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002PhRvL..88h1101B).
doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.081101 (https://doi.org/10.1103%2FPhysRevLett.88.081101).
PMID 11863949 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11863949). S2CID 41229823 (https://api.s
emanticscholar.org/CorpusID:41229823).
8. Fimiani, L.; Cook, D.L.; Faestermann, T.; Gómez-Guzmán, J.M.; Hain, K.; Herzog, G.; Knie,
K.; Korschinek, G.; Ludwig, P.; Park, J.; Reedy, R.C.; Rugel, G. (13 April 2016). "Interstellar
60Fe on the Surface of the Moon". Physical Review Letters. 116 (15): 151104.
Bibcode:2016PhRvL.116o1104F (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016PhRvL.116o1104
F). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.151104 (https://doi.org/10.1103%2FPhysRevLett.116.151
104). PMID 27127953 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27127953).
9. "Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary: did Eltanin asteroid kickstart the ice ages?" (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20171003225839/http://www.bitsofscience.org/pliocene-pleistocene-eltanin-a
steroid-ice-ages-6274/). Archived from the original (http://www.bitsofscience.org/pliocene-ple
istocene-eltanin-asteroid-ice-ages-6274/) on 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
10. "Did a Killer Asteroid Drive the Planet Into An Ice Age?" (http://www.universetoday.com/974
55/did-a-killer-asteroid-drive-the-planet-into-an-ice-age/). Universe Today. 20 September
2012.
11. Holbourn, Ann; Kuhnt, Wolfgang; Schulz, Michael; Erlenkeuser, Helmut (2005). "Impacts of
orbital forcing and atmospheric carbon dioxide on Miocene ice-sheet expansion". Nature.
438 (7067): 483–87. Bibcode:2005Natur.438..483H (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005
Natur.438..483H). doi:10.1038/nature04123 (https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature04123).
PMID 16306989 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16306989). S2CID 4406410 (https://api.se
manticscholar.org/CorpusID:4406410).
12. "Russia's Popigai Meteor Crash Linked to Mass Extinction" (http://www.livescience.com/463
12-popigai-crater-linked-eocene-mass-extinction.html). June 13, 2014.
13. Brusatte, Steve (2018). The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs. London: Picador. pp. 328–35.
ISBN 978-1-5098-3009-1.
14. David Bond; Paul Wignall. "Large igneous provinces and mass extinctions: An update" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20160124174335/http://specialpapers.gsapubs.org/content/early/20
14/06/10/2014.2505_02.full.pdf) (PDF). p. 17. Archived from the original (http://specialpaper
s.gsapubs.org/content/early/2014/06/10/2014.2505_02.full.pdf) (PDF) on 2016-01-24.
15. Singh, A. P.; Kumar, Niraj; Singh, Bijendra (2004). "Magmatic underplating beneath the
Rajmahal Traps:Gravity signature and derived 3-D configuration.Proc". Indian Acad. Sci.
(Earth Planet. Sci: 759–769. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.501.4945 (https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdo
c/summary?doi=10.1.1.501.4945).
16. Tennant, Jonathan P.; Mannion, Philip D.; Upchurch, Paul; Sutton, Mark D.; Price, Gregory
D. (2017). "Biotic and environmental dynamics through the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous
transition: evidence for protracted faunal and ecological turnover" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.
gov/pmc/articles/PMC6849608). Biological Reviews. 92 (2): 776–814.
doi:10.1111/brv.12255 (https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fbrv.12255). ISSN 1469-185X (https://ww
w.worldcat.org/issn/1469-185X). PMC 6849608 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P
MC6849608). PMID 26888552 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26888552).
17. József Pálfy; Paul L. Smith (2000). "Synchrony between Early Jurassic extinction, oceanic
anoxic event, and the Karoo-Ferrar flood basalt volcanism" (https://www.researchgate.net/pu
blication/238695407). Geology. 28 (8): 747–750. Bibcode:2000Geo....28..747P (https://ui.ad
sabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000Geo....28..747P). doi:10.1130/0091-
7613(2000)28<747:SBEJEO>2.0.CO;2 (https://doi.org/10.1130%2F0091-7613%282000%2
928%3C747%3ASBEJEO%3E2.0.CO%3B2).
18. Blackburn, Terrence J.; Olsen, Paul E.; Bowring, Samuel A.; McLean, Noah M.; Kent, Dennis
V; Puffer, John; McHone, Greg; Rasbury, Troy; Et-Touhami7, Mohammed (2013). "Zircon U-
Pb Geochronology Links the End-Triassic Extinction with the Central Atlantic Magmatic
Province". Science. 340 (6135): 941–45. Bibcode:2013Sci...340..941B (https://ui.adsabs.har
vard.edu/abs/2013Sci...340..941B). CiteSeerX 10.1.1.1019.4042 (https://citeseerx.ist.psu.ed
u/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1019.4042). doi:10.1126/science.1234204 (https://doi.org/1
0.1126%2Fscience.1234204). PMID 23519213 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23519213).
S2CID 15895416 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:15895416).
19. Onoue, Tetsuji; Sato, Honami; Yamashita, Daisuke; Ikehara, Minoru; Yasukawa, Kazutaka;
Fujinaga, Koichiro; Kato, Yasuhiro; Matsuoka, Atsushi (8 July 2016). "Bolide impact
triggered the Late Triassic extinction event in equatorial Panthalassa" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.
nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4937377). Scientific Reports. 6 (29609): 29609.
Bibcode:2016NatSR...629609O (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016NatSR...629609O).
doi:10.1038/srep29609 (https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fsrep29609). PMC 4937377 (https://www.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4937377). PMID 27387863 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
gov/27387863).
20. Dal Corso, J.; Mietto, P.; Newton, R.J.; Pancost, R.D.; Preto, N.; Roghi, G.; Wignall, P.B.
(2012). "Discovery of a major negative δ13C spike in the Carnian (Late Triassic) linked to
the eruption of Wrangellia flood basalts". Geology. 40 (1): 79–82.
Bibcode:2012Geo....40...79D (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012Geo....40...79D).
doi:10.1130/g32473.1 (https://doi.org/10.1130%2Fg32473.1).
21. Campbell, I; Czamanske, G.; Fedorenko, V.; Hill, R.; Stepanov, V. (1992). "Synchronism of
the Siberian Traps and the Permian-Triassic Boundary". Science. 258 (5089): 1760–63.
Bibcode:1992Sci...258.1760C (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992Sci...258.1760C).
doi:10.1126/science.258.5089.1760 (https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.258.5089.1760).
PMID 17831657 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17831657). S2CID 41194645 (https://api.s
emanticscholar.org/CorpusID:41194645).
22. von Frese, R; Potts, L.; Wells, S.; Leftwich, T.; Kim, H. (2009). "GRACE gravity evidence for
an impact basin in Wilkes Land, Antarctica" (https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2008GC002149).
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 10 (2): n/a. Bibcode:2009GGG....10.2014V (https://
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009GGG....10.2014V). doi:10.1029/2008GC002149 (https://doi.
org/10.1029%2F2008GC002149).
23. Wignall, P; Twitchett, R (2002). "Extent, duration, and nature of the Permian-Triassic
superanoxic event". In Christian Koeberl; Kenneth G. MacLeod (eds.). Catastrophic events
and mass extinctions: impacts and beyond. Geological Society of America. p. 396.
doi:10.1130/0-8137-2356-6.395 (https://doi.org/10.1130%2F0-8137-2356-6.395). ISBN 978-
0813723563.
24. Ice age, not warming, explains Permian-Triassic extinction event - UPI.com (https://www.upi.
com/Science_News/2017/03/06/Ice-age-not-warming-explains-Permian-Triassic-extinction-
event/6871488815458/)
25. Bond, David P.G.; Wignall, Paul B. (2014-09-01). Bond.pdf "Large igneous provinces and
mass extinctions: An update" (https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/373637/1/10877) Check
|url= value (help) (PDF). Geological Society of America Special Papers. 505: 29–55.
doi:10.1130/2014.2505(02) (https://doi.org/10.1130%2F2014.2505%2802%29).
ISBN 9780813725055. ISSN 0072-1077 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0072-1077).
26. Doblas, Miguel; R., OYARZUN; J., LOPEZ-RUIZ; J.M., CEBRIA; Youbi, Nasrrddine; V.,
MAHECHA; Lago San José, Marceliano; POCOVI; B., CABANIS (1998-12-01). "Permo-
Carboniferous Volcanism in Europe and North Africa: a Superplume exhaust valve in The
Center of Pangea" (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262757629). Journal of African
Earth Sciences. 26: 89–99. doi:10.1016/S0899-5362(97)00138-3 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2
FS0899-5362%2897%2900138-3).
27. Ricci, J; et al. (2013). "New 40Ar/39Ar and K–Ar ages of the Viluy traps (Eastern Siberia):
Further evidence for a relationship with the Frasnian–Famennian mass extinction".
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 386: 531–40.
doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.06.020 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2013.06.020).
28. Jeppsson, L. (1998). "Silurian oceanic events: summary of general characteristics". In
Landing, E.; Johnson, M.E. (eds.). Silurian Cycles: Linkages of Dynamic Stratigraphy with
Atmospheric, Oceanic and Tectonic Changes. James Hall Centennial Volume. New York
State Museum Bulletin. 491. pp. 239–57.
29. Jeppsson, L.; Calner, M. (2007). "The Silurian Mulde Event and a scenario for secundo –
secundo events". Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh. 93 (2): 135–54. doi:10.1017/s0263593300000377 (https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0
263593300000377). S2CID 129308139 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:1293081
39).
30. Munnecke, Axel; Samtleben, Christian; Bickert, Torsten (5 June 2003). "The Ireviken Event
in the lower Silurian of Gotland, Sweden - relation to similar Palaeozoic and Proterozoic
events". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 195 (1–2): 119.
Bibcode:2003PPP...195...99M (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003PPP...195...99M).
doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(03)00304-3 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0031-0182%2803%2900
304-3).
31. Jeppsson, L (1997). "The anatomy of the Mid-Early Silurian Ireviken Event and a scenario
for P-S events". In Brett, C.E.; Baird, G.C. (eds.). Paleontological Events: Stratigraphic,
Ecological, and Evolutionary Implications. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 451–
92.
32. Melott, A.L.; et al. (2004). "Did a gamma-ray burst initiate the late Ordovician mass
extinction?". International Journal of Astrobiology. 3 (1): 55–61. arXiv:astro-ph/0309415 (http
s://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0309415). Bibcode:2004IJAsB...3...55M (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.
edu/abs/2004IJAsB...3...55M). doi:10.1017/S1473550404001910 (https://doi.org/10.1017%2
FS1473550404001910). S2CID 13124815 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:13124
815).
33. Bond, David P.G.; Grasby, Stephen E. (18 May 2020). "Late Ordovician mass extinction
caused by volcanism, warming, and anoxia, not cooling and glaciation" (https://doi.org/10.11
30%2FG47377.1). Geology. 48 (8): 777–781. Bibcode:2020Geo....48..777B (https://ui.adsab
s.harvard.edu/abs/2020Geo....48..777B). doi:10.1130/G47377.1 (https://doi.org/10.1130%2F
G47377.1).
34. Ware, Bryant D.; Jourdan, Fred; Merle, Renaud; Chiaradia, Massimo; Hodges, Kyle (2018-
04-01). "The Kalkarindji Large Igneous Province, Australia: Petrogenesis of the Oldest and
Most Compositionally Homogenous Province of the Phanerozoic" (https://doi.org/10.1093%
2Fpetrology%2Fegy040). Journal of Petrology. 59 (4): 635–665.
Bibcode:2018JPet...59..635W (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018JPet...59..635W).
doi:10.1093/petrology/egy040 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fpetrology%2Fegy040).
ISSN 0022-3530 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0022-3530).
35. Extensive marine anoxia during the terminal Ediacaran Period - Science Advances (https://a
dvances.sciencemag.org/content/4/6/eaan8983.full)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_extinction_events&oldid=1051529261"

This page was last edited on 24 October 2021, at 02:37 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using
this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.