Permian (Paleozoic 6)

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Paleozoic Era 6: Permian Period

Key Events

Landmasses converge into a supercontinent, called Pangea.
Two groups of land animals develop, the synapsids (ancestors of mammals) and the sauropsids (ancestors of the dinosaurs and modern reptiles and birds).
The largest mass extinction in Earth’s history occurs at the end of the Permian Period, probably caused by massive volcanic eruptions in Siberia.
More than 95% of all species become extinct.

Illustration of life during the Permian Period. — Illustration of life during the Permian Period. Copyright: Vix Southgate

Facts, Debates & Trivia

The Permian Period is named after the Perm region in Russia’s Ural Mountains.
The granite ‘backbone’ of Cornwall is formed during this period.

Conditions

The formation of Pangea leads to drier conditions where reptiles dominate.

The Earth 280 million years ago. The red dot marks the location of what will eventually become Cornwall. Credit: C.R. Scotese/I. Webster

Timeline

298.9 – 251.9 million years ago

(47 million years)

1 metre = 10 million years

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Proterozoic Eon

Paleozoic Era: 1. Cambrian Period

Paleozoic Era: 2. Ordovician Period

Paleozoic Era: 3. Silurian Period

Paleozoic Era: 4. Devonian Period

Paleozoic Era: 5. Carboniferous Period

Paleozoic Era: 6. Permian Period

Mesozoic Era: 1. Triassic Period

Mesozoic Era: 2. Jurassic Period

Mesozoic Era: 3. Cretaceous Period

Cenozoic Era: 1. Paleogene Period

Cenozoic Era: 2. Neogene Period

Cenozoic Era: 3. Quaternary Period

Acknowledgements

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