Pleistocene Extinction

Definition

The Pleistocene Extinction, also known as the Quaternary extinction event, was a period of mass extinction that occurred approximately 11,700 to 2.58 million years ago. It led to the disappearance of many large mammal species such as mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and giant ground sloths.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Pleistocene Extinction primarily affected megafauna, which are large animal species.
2. Climate change towards the end of the last Ice Age is believed to be a major contributing factor.
3. Human activities, such as overhunting by early humans, likely played a significant role in these extinctions.
4. The extinction event marks the transition between the Pleistocene Epoch and the current Holocene Epoch.
5. Many extinct species from this period have been studied using fossil records found in various parts of the world.

Related terms

Megafauna: Large animal species typically weighing over 44 kilograms (97 pounds) that were particularly impacted by the Pleistocene Extinction

Holocene Epoch: The current geological epoch that began approximately 11,700 years ago following the end of the Pleistocene Epoch

Quaternary Period: The geological time period that includes both the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs