For over 15 years, an international team of paleontologists has been excavating fossils in Africa to enhance our understanding of the Permian period, which lasted from 299 million to 252 million years ago and culminated in the largest mass extinction known as the 'Great Dying.'

This research, led by the University of Washington and the Field Museum of Natural History, focuses on the ecosystems of southern Pangea just before the mass extinction that wiped out approximately 70% of terrestrial species.

The team conducted extensive excavation trips in three main basins: the Ruhuhu Basin in Tanzania and the Luangwa and Mid-Zambezi Basins in Zambia, often camping in remote locations and collaborating with local governments.

After analysis, the collected fossils will return to Tanzania and Zambia, showcasing the remarkable Permian specimens that provide an unprecedented glimpse into terrestrial life before the mass extinction.

The research has involved collaboration with numerous institutions and received funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society.

Among the discoveries, the team identified new species of dicynodonts, gorgonopsians, and temnospondyls, which are crucial for understanding survival and extinction patterns during this pivotal period.

Christian Sidor, a professor at the University of Washington, highlights that these new fossils will shed light on which species survived the mass extinction and the evolutionary changes that followed.

The findings facilitate geographical comparisons within Pangea, allowing researchers to explore survival and extinction patterns among species before and after the Great Dying.

This research represents the largest analysis of the fossil record from this region, which has been previously underrepresented compared to the well-studied Karoo Basin in South Africa.

Historically, the Karoo Basin was the primary source of knowledge about the Permian, but recent discoveries in Tanzania and Zambia provide a comparably pristine fossil record.

The team's findings were published in a 14-article series in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, detailing various animals from Permian Africa, including saber-toothed predators and large salamander-like creatures.

The Permian period was marked by significant evolution of terrestrial life and diverse ecosystems, which were largely obliterated during the end-Permian mass extinction, leading into the Mesozoic Era.