WHAT WAS THE PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION?
248 million years ago the Permian period ended and the Triassic period began.
The Permian mass extinction has been nicknamed the 'The Great Dying' as nearly all life on Earth was exterminated.
A staggering 96 per cent of all life on the planet was destroyed.
All life on Earth today is descended from that existing four percent of species'.
The cause of the mass extinction remains unclear to scientists, although it is thought to have lasted anywhere between 20,000 years to millions years.
Several different events triggering the total collapse of several ecosystems.
It is thought that it was a period of time with lots of volcanic activity which may have contributed to the extinction.
The eruptions may have depleted the ozone layer - which protects the planet from damaging UV radiation.
This high-energy form of radiation can cause significant damage to living things.
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