Balkanatolia: Discovery of ‘lost’ continent may solve mass extinction mystery
A study could explain how native Asian mammals ended up settling in another continent
New research has uncovered a “lost” continent that may have served as an ancient corridor between Asia and Europe, ultimately triggering a mass extinction event 34 million years ago.
According to a study from journal Earth-Science Reviews, the low-lying landmass wedged between Asia, Africa and Europe - dubbed Balkanatolia - acted as a passageway for mammals to cross over from Asia into south Europe.
This is believed to have given rise to a sudden eradication of native species, known as the Grande Coupure.
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