a ISBN 0-500-05116-X

a Original cataloging agency NEU GrandLibrary

a Classification number QE721.2.E97

b Item number B46 2003

a Dewey Classification 576.8/4

a Personal name Benton M J

a Title When life nearly died :

b Remainder of title the greatest mass extinction of all time /

c Statement of responsibility, etc Michael J. Benton.

h Medium BOOK

a Place of publication, distribution, etc New York :

b Name of publisher, distributor, etc Thames & Hudson,

c Date of publication, distribution, etc 2003.

a Extent 336 p. :

b Other physical details ill., maps ;

c Dimensions 24 cm.

a Bibliography, etc Includes bibliographical references (p. 318-328) and index.

a Formatted contents note Geological time-scale -- Antediluvian Sauria -- Murchison names the permian -- Death of catastrophism -- Concept that dared not speak its name -- Impact! -- Diversity, extinction and mass extinction -- Homing in on the event -- Life's biggest challenge -- Tale of two continents -- On the river Sakmara -- What caused the biggest catastrophe of all time? -- Sixth mass extinction? -- Glossary.

a Summary, etc Today it is common knowledge that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact 65 million years ago that killed half of all species then living. Far less well-known is a much greater catastrophe that took place at the end of the Permian period 251 million years ago: at least 90 percent of life was destroyed, both on land and in the sea. ... This book documents not only what happened during this gigantic mass extinction but also the recent rekindling of the idea of catastrophism.-Dust jacket.

a Topical term or geographic name as entry element Extinction Biology

a Topical term or geographic name as entry element Catastrophes Geology

a Topical term or geographic name as entry element Geology Stratigraphic

y Chronological subdivision Permian

u Uniform Resource Identifier http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/fy045/2002109744.html