The First Apex Predator on Land

This is episode 2 of our 6-part series, Eons: Life and Death on Pangea. You can watch the whole series right now on https://www.pbs.org/eons or if you prefer to watch on YouTube check back here weekly for new episodes! The first herbivorous vertebrates evolve on the side of the amniote family tree leading to mammals. Alongside them come apex predators, like Dimetrodon. But the Early Permian Period ends in a mystery: is it an extinction event or just a fossil gap? 00:00 The First Herbivores 03:10 The Food Chain 09:55 The First Apex Predators 18:32 Olson's Gap 22:41 Rise of the Therapsids 25:05 Next Time 25:35 Credits PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to http://to.pbs.org/DonateEons ***** Eons is a production of Complexly for PBS Digital Studios. Super special thanks to the following Patreon patrons for helping make Eons possible: A.B. Heckert, Aaditya Mehta, Albert Folsom, Alex Hackman, Alli and Harry Meneses, AllPizzasArePersonal, anaïs wren, Annemiek Arkema, Betsy Radley, Brian Bertrand, Brian Clubb, Christopher Samuel, Collin Dutrow, Concavenator Amigo, Deanna Hernandez, Dennis Dawson, Duane Westhoff, Eric Edwards, Eric Franklin, Eric Younge, Gizmo, HannahCQ, Heathe Kyle Yeakley, Hillary Ryde-Collins, Irene Wood, Jason Rostoker, Jeff Graham, Jennifer Courtemanche, John Celio, Karen Farrell, Kerry Conneely, Kevin Lacson, Lea Nisay, Lianne Lairmore, Lycoperdon perlatum, Mary Sammartino, Mary Tevington, Melodie Chen-Glasser, Nathan Paskett, Nick A, Nick Ryhajlo, Nomi Alchin, Nquiztor, Rachel Godwin, raus, Roatana, Ruth Orr, Sara Lance, Sarah Ellis, Sarah Grunow-Mau, SKS PHD, Stephanie Schlea, Stephen A Muth III, Steve Hill, Steven Kern, Steven S Thompson, Susan Freund, tara thara, TranquiliT, Walter Ray-Dulany, William Sunderland, Willie, Yu Mei, Zach L If you'd like to support the channel, head over to http://patreon.com/eons and pledge for some cool rewards! Want to follow Eons elsewhere on the internet? Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/eonsshow Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eonsshow/ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/pbseons.bsky.social #Eons References: