Hangenberg Event

The Hangenberg Event was a significant mass extinction that occurred at the end of the Devonian Period, approximately 359 million years ago. This event primarily impacted marine life and contributed to the elimination of about 70-80% of animal species present during the Devonian.1

The Hangenberg Event is characterized by the extinction of specific groups, including phacopid trilobites, various goniatites, and the unique Late Devonian coiled cephalopods known as clymeniids. While the exact cause remains debated, potential contributing factors include rapid global cooling, widespread anoxic (low oxygen) conditions in the seas, and possibly meteorite impacts. This event is one of several major extinction episodes during the Devonian Period.12