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How severe was the end-Permian mass extinction?

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The end-Permian mass extinction, often referred to as the terminal Permian crisis, stands as the most severe mass extinction in Earth’s geologic history. This catastrophic event resulted in the loss of approximately 90 percent of all species on the planet.12

The impact on biodiversity was profound and widespread:
* Marine Life: More than 95 percent of marine species were eliminated, including the near-total loss of brachiopods and corals.12
* Terrestrial Life: Approximately 70 percent of land-dwelling species perished, with only 30 percent of terrestrial vertebrate genera surviving into the Triassic Period.13
* Taxonomic Impact: More than half of all taxonomic families present at the time disappeared.12

While some researchers argue the extinction occurred over 15 million years through a series of pulses, others suggest a more rapid event lasting roughly 200,000 years, with the most intense losses occurring over a 20,000-year span. The crisis was likely driven by environmental stressors such as oceanic anoxia and intense volcanic activity.123