CENOZOIC EARTH

65 Million Years Ago to Present Day
Cenozoic means "recent life".  The Cenozoic Era begain approximately 65 million years ago and continues today.  During the early part of this time period, the Earth began to take on its present appearance.  Plant and animal life developed into forms that are easily recognizable today.  Fossil evidence from this period shows many changes in the Earth's landscape, climate, and life forms has occurred.  The supercontinent Pangaea broke apart during the Mesozoic Era creating smaller pieces of land.  These pieces of land have drifted apart throughout the planet and are now the continents that we are familiar with. Many parts of the Earth continued to cool and several ice ages occurred.  Ice also formed at the north and south poles of the Earth.

The Cenozoic Era is known as the "Age of Mammals" because the largest land animals of this time period are mammals. These animals include primative horses, camels, whales and apes. This time period also marks the spread of modern humans throughout the world.  But mammals aren't the only ones to inhabit the earth.  Many new types of flowering plants, insects, fish, and birds have developed and are currently sharing the planet with mammals. 

The Earth and life on Earth changed very much during each era of geologic history and continues to change today.  What will the continents look like in 50 million years?  Will humans still exist?  Only time will answer these intriguing questions.  I hope you enjoyed your journey through Earth's fascinating history.  To learn more about this topic, take a look at some of the following websites:

http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0840029.html

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/index.html

http://www.mpm.edu/collect/geology/geosec-noframes.html

http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/faq/gt/gt_start.html
 
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Home page - Earth' s History
Precambrian Era
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
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