Georges cuvier theory of evolution

The Foundation of Modern Geology

Georges Cuvier’s sketch of stratigraphy in the Paris Basin.

A comic depicting the implications of attributing mass extinction events to world wide flooding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catastrophism was a theory developed by Georges Cuvier based on paleontological evidence in the Paris Basin.

Catastrophism | The Foundation of Modern Geology - University ...

Cuvier was there when he observed something peculiar about the fossil record. Instead of finding a continuous succession of fossils, Cuvier noticed several gaps where all evidence of life would disappear and then abruptly reappear again after a notable amount of time. Cuvier recognized these gaps in the fossil succession as mass extinction events.

This led Cuvier to develop a theory called catastrophism. Catastrophism states that natural history has been punctuated by catastrophic events that altered that way life developed and rocks were deposited.

Although Cuvier hypothesized that the flooding of lo Extinctions: Georges Cuvier - Understanding Evolution TETO