Dinosaurs ConnectionsAftermath of Extinction |
What percentage of marine animals went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period? |
The marine biota was hit very hard by the Cretaceous extinctions. About 15 percent of all marine families died out, as well as perhaps 80 to 90 percent of all species. Here are some examples of the approximate percentage of certain groups that went extinct:
Ammonites—100%
Marine reptiles—93%
Planktonic foraminifera—83%
Sponges—69%
Corals—65%
Sea urchins—54%
Ostracodes—50%
All of the flying pterosaur species, like this Quetzalcoatlus, became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous (Big Stock Photo).