The Cenozoic Era
The Cenozoic Era is the era we live in now. It goes from 65 million years ago to today. The Cenozoic Era’s nickname is the “Age of Mammals”. The Cenozoic Era is divided into three periods the Paleogene period 65-23 million years ago, the Neogene period 23-2.6 million years ago and the Quaternary period 2.6 million years ago to the present.
Climate
An early portion of the Cenozoic Era was much warmer than today. During the Paleogene period about 55.8 million years ago global warming occurred. The Paleogene period had a mostly tropical climate. Following the Paleogene period the Neogene period saw drastic cooling. The cooling spread to the Quaternary period. During the Pleistocene Epoch of the Quaternary period glaciers covered North America.
The Continents
During the Cenozoic Era the continents continued to move to present day positions. Antarctica continued to move to present day position.
Major Changes to Landforms
At the beginning of the Cenozoic Era the Rocky Mountains, Himalayas and the Andes continued forming.At the end of the Cenozoic Era during the Pleistocene Epoch of the Quaternary period glaciers advance and retreat over North America, Europe, parts of South America, Asia and all of Antarctica.
Major Changes to Living Things
During the Cenozoic Era flowering plants thrive. Also during the Cenozoic Era the first grasses appear and mammals continued evolving. The first traces of Homo Sapiens forming took place 50 thousand years ago, but human ancestors evolved only 1 thousand years ago.
End of Period
The Cenozoic Era has not ended yet.
The Cenozoic Era is the era we live in now. It goes from 65 million years ago to today. The Cenozoic Era’s nickname is the “Age of Mammals”. The Cenozoic Era is divided into three periods the Paleogene period 65-23 million years ago, the Neogene period 23-2.6 million years ago and the Quaternary period 2.6 million years ago to the present.
Climate
An early portion of the Cenozoic Era was much warmer than today. During the Paleogene period about 55.8 million years ago global warming occurred. The Paleogene period had a mostly tropical climate. Following the Paleogene period the Neogene period saw drastic cooling. The cooling spread to the Quaternary period. During the Pleistocene Epoch of the Quaternary period glaciers covered North America.
The Continents
During the Cenozoic Era the continents continued to move to present day positions. Antarctica continued to move to present day position.
Major Changes to Landforms
At the beginning of the Cenozoic Era the Rocky Mountains, Himalayas and the Andes continued forming.At the end of the Cenozoic Era during the Pleistocene Epoch of the Quaternary period glaciers advance and retreat over North America, Europe, parts of South America, Asia and all of Antarctica.
Major Changes to Living Things
During the Cenozoic Era flowering plants thrive. Also during the Cenozoic Era the first grasses appear and mammals continued evolving. The first traces of Homo Sapiens forming took place 50 thousand years ago, but human ancestors evolved only 1 thousand years ago.
End of Period
The Cenozoic Era has not ended yet.