The Mysterious Mass Extinction of Ancient Amphibians

by Sol Saray, age 9

Did you know that before the dinosaurs’ extinction there was another mass extinction of amphibians 290 million years ago? The extinction of some amphibians caused reptiles to spread fast and evolve.

Although amphibians existed before reptiles, reptiles were very different from them. For example, reptiles had scaly skin and tough eggshells that helped them survive on land, whereas the amphibians had jelly-like eggs that had to be laid in water. The reptiles could expand into places where the amphibians could not live.

Reptiles had special abilities that helped them to survive and eat. The first reptile, known as Hylonomus, looked like a lizard, but it was actually a different type of reptile that lived on the ground and in trees. Later, other reptiles like Diictodon evolved to dig holes and live underground with their large teeth. This allowed it to protect itself from bad weather. The Diictodon’s teeth also helped to cut and eat plants that were hard to chew.

While mass extinctions cause a lot of death, they also provide opportunities for new forms of life like reptiles. Reptiles today have expanded all over the world. What's your favorite reptile?

[Source: 100 Things You Should Know About Prehistoric Life ]