What are the two major theories to explain the dinosaur extinction?
Over the years, paleontologists have proposed several theories for this extensive die-off. One early theory was that small mammals ate dinosaur eggs, thereby reducing the dinosaur population until it became unsustainable. Another theory was that dinosaurs’ bodies became too big to be operated by their small brains.
What was Alvarez’s theory for the extinction of dinosaurs?
theory” formulated by American scientists Walter Alvarez and Luis Alvarez. This theory states that a bolide (meteorite or comet) impact may have triggered the extinction event by ejecting a huge quantity of rock debris into the atmosphere, enshrouding Earth in darkness for several months or longer.
Do you support the impact theory which explains the extinction of dinosaurs and other species of animals and plants 65 million years ago?
Most scientists agree on the asteroid impact theory as the main explanation for the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction. According to this theory, a huge asteroid struck the Yucatan Peninsula between 65 and 66 million years ago, creating the Chicxulub crater.
What is the main reason for the extinction of dinosaurs?
The exact nature of this catastrophic event is still open to scientific debate. Evidence suggests an asteroid impact was the main culprit. Volcanic eruptions that caused large-scale climate change may also have been involved, together with more gradual changes to Earth’s climate that happened over millions of years.
What is the evidence for the Permian extinction?
A team of scientists has found new evidence that the Great Permian Extinction, which occurred 252 million years ago was caused by massive volcanic eruptions in what is now Siberia, which led to catastrophic environmental changes. The above shows parts of the volcanic rock today.
How do we know a meteor killed the dinosaurs?
Paul says, ‘An asteroid impact is supported by really good evidence because we’ve identified the crater. It’s now largely buried on the seafloor off the coast of Mexico. It is exactly the same age as the extinction of the non-bird dinosaurs, which can be tracked in the rock record all around the world. ‘
What caused most of the dinosaurs to go extinct and how do scientists know?
Where were the continents when the dinosaurs went extinct?
When the Cretaceous Period ended, most of the present-day continents were separated from each other by expanses of water such as the North and South Atlantic Ocean. At the end of the period, India was adrift in the Indian Ocean, and Australia was still connected to Antarctica.
Did Ancient Aliens get rid of the dinosaurs for Humanity?
Last year, the basic cable program “Ancient Aliens” devoted an entire episode to the idea, borrowing misunderstandings and outright fabrications from creationists to help make their case that extra-terrestrials eliminated the dinosaurs to make room for humanity. Apatosaurus only ever faced down aliens in comic books and movies.
Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?
Here are six alternative explanations for the extinction of the dinosaurs, ranging from reasonably argued (volcanic eruptions) to just plain wacky (intervention by aliens). Starting about 70 million years ago, five million years before the K/T Extinction , there was intense volcanic activity in what is now northern India.
How plausible is the volcanic theory of dinosaur extinction?
The volcanic theory of dinosaur extinction would be extremely plausible if it weren’t for the five-million-year gap between the start of the Deccan trap eruptions and the end of the Cretaceous period.
Did caterpillars and moths coexist with Dinosaurs?
Herbivorous dinosaurs would have starved, Stanley argued, and predatory dinosaurs would soon be left with nothing to eat but each other. But not only did butterflies and moths coexist with dinosaurs for millions of years, there is no sign of such a disastrous caterpillar spike in the fossil record.