| Description |
336 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 24 cm |
|
regular print |
| Contents |
Machine derived contents note: Prologue -- The Geological Time-Scale -- Chapter 1 -- Antediluvian Sauria -- Chapter 2 -- Murchison Names The Permian -- Chapter 3 -- The Death Of Catastrophism -- Chapter 4 -- The Concept That Dared Not Speak Its Name -- Chapter 5 -- Impact! -- Chapter 6 -- Diversity, Extinction And Mass Extinction -- Chapter 7 -- Homing In On The Event -- Chapter 8 -- Life'S Biggest Challenge -- Chapter 9 -- A Tale Of Two Continents -- Chapter 10 -- On The River Sakmara -- Chapter 11 -- What Caused The Biggest Catastrophe Of All Time? -- Chapter 12 -- The Sixth Mass Extinction? -- Glossary -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Illustration Credits |
| Summary |
Today it is common knowledge that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact 65 million years ago that killed half of all species then living. Far less well-known is a much greater catastrophe that took place at the end of the Permian period 251 million years ago: at least 90 percent of life was destroyed, both on land and in the sea. ... This book documents not only what happened during this gigantic mass extinction but also the recent rekindling of the idea of catastrophism.-Dust jacket |
| Notes |
Includes index |
| Bibliography |
Bibliography, pages 318-328 |
| Subject |
Extinction (Biology) -- History.
|
|
Geology, Stratigraphic -- Permian.
|
| Genre/Form |
History.
|
| ISBN |
050005116X |
|
