Presented by: Breanne Scott Mr. Quinzers class 7th period Cenozoic and Man Presented by: Breanne Scott Mr. Quinzers class 7th period

The Cenozoic Era Began around 65 million years ago. Also called the Age of Mammals. Continents started to move into present-day positions. Climate changed dramatically. Many species evolved. To live in new climate changes. New species appeared as a result of evolution.

Cenozoic Era continued… Plate tectonics occurred. This spread many animals to different regions. The Cenozoic Era was divided into two periods: -The Tertiary Period. -The Quaternary Period.

Tertiary Period Paleocene Epoch First primates evolved. This led to human evolution. Most mammals were small, rodent-like, herbivores. By mid-Paleocene, hoofed mammals increased in numbers.

Paleocene Epoch continued… Panagaea started to separate into two continents: Gondwanaland Laurasia Greenland began to break away from Europe. This formed the mid-Atlantic Ridge. Temperatures also started to fluctuate.

Eocene Epoch It started about 54.9 to 38 million years ago. Mammals became dominant. Still reptiles continued to prosper. The climate was moderately warm. Vegetation seemed to be more like modern day plant life. Continents continued to drift into their present day positions. Toward the ending of this epoch the climate began declining swiftly.

Oligocene Epoch It lasted from about 38 to 24 million years ago. Some early mammals have died. Larger species have survived. Like deer, pigs, horses, cats, and camels. The earliest elephant appeared. The first human ape also appeared in Africa. The world became drier and cooler.

Oligocene Epoch continued… Grasses, cone bearing, and hardwood trees prospered. Carnivores began to hunt in open areas. Herbivores adapted to feeding on grasslands. Both adapted stronger eyesight for survival. Herbivores and carnivores also evolved longer limbs for speed.

Miocecne Epoch It lasted from about 24.6 to 5.1 million years ago. This epoch started out warmer than the previous ones. The changing weather caused most forest conditions to be replaced by grasslands. The Mediterranean Sea became arid and refilled many times. Volcanic action also started to increase.

Miocene Epoch continued… Primates became more unique and different. The biggest ape found evolved during this period. Most apes became fruit eaters. At least two species of apes were leaf eaters. Late in this epoch sea levels started to decrease and tectonic forces began to arise.

Pliocene Epoch It occurred 5.1 to 2 million years ago. The first modern horses appeared. Plant eaters, such as the giant sloth, started to flourish. More and more water froze as ice. The Arctic Circle formed by the expansion of ice sheets. Sea levels started to decrease.

Pliocene Epoch continued… The Bering land bridge between North America and Eurasia appeared. Earth’s crust changed and formed between North and South America. This is known as the Central land bridge. The two land bridges let many species migrate to different countries. By the end climatic changes took place. Continental ice sheets began to expand.

The Quaternary Period Pleistocene Epoch The Pleistocene Epoch began around 1.8 million years ago. Also known as the Ice Age. Animals developed characteristics for the cold climate. Others dealt with the cold by moving to warmer regions. The giant sloth’s gradually became extinct. Other species became extinct, such as the dire wolf.

Holocene Epoch This epoch began 11,500 years ago as the glacial time period ended. It’s the rise and humans. This also includes the present. Humans started to develop farming techniques. They began making the use of bronze and iron tools.

Holocene Epoch continued… Many glaciers have melted. Sea levels rose about 140 centimeters . Risen sea levels caused coast lines to take on their modern day forms. The last ice sheets then melted The North American Great Lakes were formed.