The Late Capitanian Mass Extinction of Terrestrial Vertebrates in the Karoo Basin of South Africa

The Beaufort Group of the main Karoo Basin South Africa records two major extinction events terrestrial vertebrates in late Palaeozoic. oldest these has been dated to Capitanian and is characterized by dinocephalian therapsids bradysaurian pareiasaurs near top Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone. Faunal turnover associated with dinocephalians evident vertebrate faunas from elsewhere Pangaea but it can be best studied Basin, where exposures upper Abrahamskraal lower Teekloof formations allow continuous sampling across whole interval. Here we present field data for several sections spanning interval southwestern discuss recent work establish its timing, severity, causes. A large collections database informed fieldwork demonstrates an increase rates ecological instability that approach end-Permian mass extinction, shows significant followed a period low diversity. Extinctions recovery appear phased show similarities diversity patterns reported higher sequence. In Karoo, coincides volcanism Emeishan Large Igneous Province may have partly driven short-term aridification, clear causal mechanisms robust links global environmental phenomena remain elusive.