Extinction - Maps of the Earth

The Carboniferous Period, dating back 359 to 299 million years ago, was a time when Earth's atmospheric oxygen levels soared to 35%, significantly higher than today's 20%. This oxygen-rich environment allowed insects to reach astonishing sizes, with species like the Arthropleura, a giant millipede, growing over 3 metres in length, and the Meganeura, a dragonfly as large as an eagle. Amphibians were the dominant land animals of the era, and they, too, were much larger compared to their modern-day counterparts. The Earth's surface was predominantly covered by dense forests, the remnants of which have given us the coal reserves we utilise today, while the seas were home to a diverse array of creatures, including the peculiar-looking shark Stethacanthus, notable for its ironing board-shaped dorsal fin.

Following the Carboniferous, the Triassic Period spanned from 252 to 201 million years ago and began with a catastrophic extinction event that wiped out a majority of life on Earth. This period saw the rise of therapsids, the ancestors of mammals, and archosaurs, crocodile-like reptiles. The vast majority of land was fused into a supercontinent known as Pangaea, which eventually began to fracture. The climate was predominantly arid and desert-like, transitioning to a more humid environment as the landmasses separated. Another mass extinction at the end of the Triassic paved the way for the age of the dinosaurs, marking the start of their 150-million-year reign.