A mass extinction is a global event in which a large number of species perish in a relatively short amount of geologic time. There have been five major mass extinctions in Earth’s history. The Cretaceous-Palaeogene extinction event was the fifth and most recent. Following the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, dinosaurs were the most successful survivors on land, … Continue reading The Cretaceous-Palaeogene Extinction Event
extinction
The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction Event
A mass extinction is a global event in which a large number of species perish in a relatively short amount of geologic time. There have been five major mass extinctions in Earth’s history. The Triassic-Jurassic extinction event was the fourth to occur, and the least severe based on the percentage of species lost. After the … Continue reading The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction Event
Speaker Series 2018: Ya Ha Tinda and Mass Extinction in the Early Jurassic
There were only three Early Jurassic Konservat Lagerstätten known in the world until an incredible diversity of fossil marine life was discovered at the Parks Canada Ya Ha Tinda Ranch. A Konservat Lagerstätte is a deposit of exceptionally preserved fossils where soft body parts are fossilized. The Ya Ha Tinda site is the first marine … Continue reading Speaker Series 2018: Ya Ha Tinda and Mass Extinction in the Early Jurassic
Speaker Series 2017: Mass Extinctions, Ray-Finned Fishes, and the Closing of Romer’s Gap
The actinopterygians, or ray-finned fishes, are a substantial and significant component of modern vertebrate (animals with backbones) diversity. Ray-finned fishes are bony and have paired fins that are supported by rays (the actinosts) that insert directly in the body. Examples of modern ray-finned fishes include trout, eels, and bettas. Despite their prevalence today, the early … Continue reading Speaker Series 2017: Mass Extinctions, Ray-Finned Fishes, and the Closing of Romer’s Gap
New Royal Tyrrell Museum Research Investigates the Pace of the Dinosaur Extinction, and Why Birds May Have Survived
One of the most intriguing and enduring aspects of dinosaurs is their extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period. After decades of research into this topic, most palaeontologists can agree on several details regarding the dinosaur mass-extinction. First, the extinction was due, at least in part, to an asteroid impact with the Earth at … Continue reading New Royal Tyrrell Museum Research Investigates the Pace of the Dinosaur Extinction, and Why Birds May Have Survived
Speaker Series 2016: The Cretaceous-Palaeogene Mass Extinction: What Do We Really Know?
The Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K-Pg) mass extinction is one of the most famous extinction events in Earth’s history, most notably as it marked the end of the Age of Dinosaurs approximately 66 million years ago. Although it is widely known that dinosaurs were wiped out during this event, many other types of animals also went extinct at … Continue reading Speaker Series 2016: The Cretaceous-Palaeogene Mass Extinction: What Do We Really Know?