How did animals survive the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs?
The survival of certain animals after the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs is attributed to their size and dietary habits. Smaller animals, such as some lizards and mammals, were better able to find shelter and required less food during the aftermath. Additionally, the avian ancestors of modern birds survived due to their small size and ability to fly, leading to a shift in the average size of Earth's surviving animals.
- ▪The asteroid impact 66 million years ago caused the extinction of 75% of Earth's species, including nonavian dinosaurs.
- ▪Smaller animals were more likely to survive due to their ability to find shelter and lower food requirements.
- ▪The ancestors of modern birds survived because they were small and had the ability to fly, allowing them to escape danger.
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Animals How did animals survive the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs? It helped to have a number of features to aid survival following the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. By Isabel Gil published 24 May 2026 in Features When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. An asteroid caused the demise of the nonavian dinosaurs 66 million years ago, so how did other animals survive? (Image credit: angel_nt via Getty Images) Copy link Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Around 66 million years ago, a gigantic asteroid smashed into Earth and wreaked chaos globally.Superheated rock from the impact spewed into…
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