THE CENOZOIC ERA

The Cenozoic Era is the most recent of the three major subdivisions of animal history. The Cenozoic
spans only about 65 million years, from the end of the Cretaceous Period and the extinction of non-
avian dinosaurs to the present. The Cenozoic is sometimes called the Age of Mammals, because the
largest land animals have been mammals during that time. This is a misnomer for several reasons. First,
the history of mammals began long before the Cenozoic began. Second, the diversity of life during the
Cenozoic Is far wider than mammals. The Cenozoic could have been called the "Age of Flowering Plants"
or the "Age of Insects" or the "Age of Teleost Fish" or the "Age of Birds" just as accurately.

The Cenozoic (65.5 million years ago to present) is divided into three periods: the Paleogene (65.5 to
23.03 million years ago), Neogene (23.03 to 2.6 million years ago), and the Quaternary (2.6 million years
ago to present). Paleogene and Neogene are relatively new terms that now replace the deprecated
term, Tertiary. The Paleogene is subdivided into three epochs: the Paleocene (65.5 to 55.8 million years
ago), the Eocene (55.8 to 33.9 million years ago), and the Oligocene (33.9 to 23.03 million years ago).
The Neogene subdivided into two epochs: the Miocene (23.03 to 5:332 million years ago) and Pliocene
(5.332 to 2.588 million years ago)

PERIOD EPOCH EVENTS LIFE FORMS

Paleogene Paleocene The continents moved closer to Lots of animals and plants lived,
Epoch their current positions, dinosaurs like mammals, reptiles, birds,
66 to 23 were wiped out, and mammals and flowering plants. Some
million years 66-56mya and birds greatly diversified. examples are early primates,
ago flightless birds, and reptiles such
as crocodiles and snakes.
Mammals started to expand and
take over roles previously held
by dinosaurs.

Eocene Epoch The Eocene Epoch marks the first The Eocene Epoch saw the
appearance in the fossil record replacement of older
56-33.9mya of the two completely marine mammalian orders by modern
 mammal groups, the cetaceans
(whales, porpoises, and
dolphins) and the sirenians (akin
to the modern manatees and
dugongs). Similarly, the Eocene
provides the first elephant-like
animals and the early bats.
Oligocene The beginning of the Oligocene is
Epoch marked by a sudden decrease in
earth's temperature. The
33.9-23mya Antarctic continent had drifted
to its current position at the
south pole and a permanent ice
cap had started to form. Open
plains and deserts became more
common and grasslands began
to spread.
Neogene Miocene -Expansion of Grasslands
Epoch
23 to 2.6 -Continental Drift
million years 23.03 to 5.33
ago MYA -Climate Changes
-Formation of Land Bridges
-Geological Events including
volcanic activity, mountain-
building processes, and the
deposition of sedimentary
layers.
Pliocene Epoch -Formation of the Isthmus of
Panama
5.33 to 2.6
MYA -Continued Tectonic Activity
-Climate Changes
ones. Hoofed animals first
appeared, including the famous
Eohippus (dawn horse) and
ancestral rhinoceroses and
tapirs. Early bats, rabbits,
beavers, rats, mice, carnivorous
mammals, and whales also
evolved during the Eocene
Epoch.
there were various life forms like
mammals, reptiles, birds, plants,
insects, marine life, amphibians,
and invertebrates.
-Mammals
-Birds
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Plants
- Invertebrates
-Hominins
-Megafauna
-Marine mammals
 -Evolution of Hominins -Avian Fauna.

-Marine Evolution -Terrestrial Mammals

-Continued Sea Level Changes -Reptiles and Amphibians

-Geological Events including -Invertebrates

volcanic eruptions, seismic
activity, and the deposition of
sedimentary layers. These
processes contributed to
landscape formation and the
creation of diverse habitats for
terrestrial and aquatic
organisms.

Quaternary Pleistocene -A dramatic event of this time -A great diversity of mammals

Epoch period was the last “ice age.” lived in north america, including
2.6 million mammoths, mastodons, giant
years ago and 2.6 MYA - 11.7 -Biogeographically, this epoch is sloths, several ilama-like camels,
continues up KYA characterized by the dramatic and tapirs.
to today modernization of mammals.

-The growth of large ice sheets,

ice caps, and long valley glaciers.

Holecene -A number of large animals -Humans. We are currently living

Epoch including mammoths and in the holocene epoch.
mastodons, saber-tooth cats like
11.7 KYA - smilodon and homotherium, and
Present giant sloths dissapered in the
late pleistocene and early
holocene.

-“ age of man.”

-During this period, the climate

has seen some warming and
cooling.