That Time the Mediterranean Sea Disappeared

The video explores the discovery of Neurolagus Rex, a giant rabbit from the Pliocene epoch, and its connection to the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) in the Mediterranean. The MSC, a period when the Mediterranean Sea nearly dried up, is explained through various hypotheses involving tectonic shifts and climate changes. The event's impact on marine life and the formation of unique species due to insular gigantism and dwarfism is discussed. The video concludes with the end of the MSC and its implications for future geological events.

How did tectonic events contribute to the drying up of the Mediterranean Sea?

What role did climate change play in the events surrounding the Messinian salinity crisis?

What evidence do geologists have regarding the duration of the Messinian salinity crisis?

Discuss the impact of the Messinian salinity crisis on marine life in the Mediterranean.