What is a mammal extinction event?
Quick Answer
A mammal extinction event is a period when many mammal species die out over a relatively short geological time. Climate shifts, habitat loss, and human activity can all contribute.
The Full Story
Extinction events can reshape mammal evolution by removing species and opening ecological niches. The end of the last Ice Age, around 11,700 years ago, saw the disappearance of many large mammals such as mammoths and giant ground sloths. Scientists debate the relative roles of climate change and human hunting in these losses. Earlier mass extinctions also transformed the mammal family tree, eventually allowing mammals to diversify after dinosaurs disappeared about 66 million years ago.
Key Facts
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"Why giant mammals vanished after the Ice Age"