GEOLOGY & PLANETARY SCIENCE A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z           HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Permian period The final period of the Paleozoic era. The Permian period spans the time between the Carboniferous period and the start of the Mesozoic era, about 290 to 248 million years ago. The end of the Permian was marked by the largest mass extinction in the history of life on Earth, in which many groups of organisms died out including almost all marine invertebrates. On land, a relatively smaller extinction of diapsids and synapsids cleared the way for other forms to dominate, and led to what has been called the Age of Dinosaurs. Related category    • GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP