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Cenozoic History Timeline

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Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
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1. Yellowstone caldera erupts
6.5 Ma
0.64 Ma
0.3 Ma
20 Ma

2. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
55 Ma
63 Ma
30 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

3. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
0.64 Ma
0.7 Ma
25 Ma
36 Ma

4. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
26 Ma
24 Ma
0.5 Ma
28 Ma

5. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
40 Ma
50 Ma
4.8 Ma
33 Ma

6. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
1.2 Ma
15 Ma
0.79 Ma
3 Ma

7. start of the Pleistocene epoch - the Stone Age and the current Quaternary period; emergence of the genus Homo. Smilodon - the best known of the sabre-toothed cats - appears.
2.5 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
36 Ma
4.8 Ma

8. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
3 Ma
49 Ma
20 Ma
35 Ma

9. Estimated age of the Hominidae/Hylobatidae (great apes vs. gibbons) split.
0.5 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
18-12 Ma
0.6 Ma

10. First Nimravids.
36 Ma
0.2 Ma
5 Ma
37 Ma

11. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
0.5 Ma
25 Ma
1.2 Ma
63 Ma

12. Estimated age of the Hominidae/Hylobatidae (great apes vs. gibbons) split.
18-12 Ma
49 Ma
36 Ma
15 Ma

13. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
28 Ma
0.2 Ma
30 Ma
60 Ma

14. Gastornis evolves.
56 Ma
6.5 Ma
0.7 Ma
6 Ma

15. start of the Pleistocene epoch - the Stone Age and the current Quaternary period; emergence of the genus Homo. Smilodon - the best known of the sabre-toothed cats - appears.
18-12 Ma
35 Ma
55 Ma
2.5 Ma

16. Whales return to the water.
10 Ma
20 Ma
49 Ma
1.7 Ma

17. First creodonts.
63 Ma
40 Ma
5.5 Ma
0.7 Ma

18. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
6.5 Ma
5.5 Ma
20 Ma
30 Ma

19. Africa collides with Eurasia - closing the Tethys Sea. Divergence of cat and dog ancestors. Primates diversify. Brontotheres - tapirs - rhinos - and camels evolve.
33 Ma
0.6 Ma
50 Ma
3 Ma

20. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
60 Ma
2.5 Ma
15 Ma
1.5 Ma

21. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
0.2 Ma
2.5 Ma
37 Ma
24 Ma

22. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
0.6 Ma
28 Ma
36 Ma
0.5 Ma

23. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
0.3 Ma
34 Ma
0.7 Ma
49 Ma

24. Australopithecines diversify.
1.5 Ma
0.79 Ma
6 Ma
0.3 Ma

25. Cats evolve.
18-12 Ma
1.5 Ma
34 Ma
5 Ma

26. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
0.35 Ma
34 Ma
40 Ma
1.5 Ma

27. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
56 Ma
0.64 Ma
60 Ma
5.5 Ma

28. First deer.
5.5 Ma
30 Ma
25 Ma
4.5 Ma

29. current ice age begins
3 Ma
20 Ma
2.6 Ma
1.5 Ma

30. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
2.5 Ma
40 Ma
1.5 Ma
0.7 Ma

31. First bats.
50 Ma
25 Ma
4.8 Ma
52 Ma

32. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
4.5 Ma
2.5 Ma
3 Ma
3 Ma

33. First Nimravids.
36 Ma
37 Ma
6.5 Ma
24 Ma

34. current ice age begins
26 Ma
0.79 Ma
2.6 Ma
10 Ma

35. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
63 Ma
0.6 Ma
20 Ma
26 Ma

36. Paraceratherium evolves.
28 Ma
10 Ma
30 Ma
25 Ma

37. The island of theIndian subcontinent collides with Asia - thrusting up the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. Many modern bird groups appear.First whale ancestors.First rodents - lagomorphs - armadillos - sirenians - proboscideans - perissodactyls -
55 Ma
0.3 Ma
3 Ma
50 Ma

38. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
0.6 Ma
37 Ma
56 Ma
1.5 Ma

39. Cats evolve.
63 Ma
34 Ma
18-12 Ma
25 Ma

40. Emergence of the first true elephants.
26 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
55 Ma
0.6 Ma

41. Whales return to the water.
49 Ma
0.2 Ma
37 Ma
33 Ma

42. Africa collides with Eurasia - closing the Tethys Sea. Divergence of cat and dog ancestors. Primates diversify. Brontotheres - tapirs - rhinos - and camels evolve.
6 Ma
50 Ma
25 Ma
49 Ma

43. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
0.2 Ma
36 Ma
49 Ma
1.7 Ma

44. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
4.5 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.2 Ma
1.5 Ma

45. The island of theIndian subcontinent collides with Asia - thrusting up the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. Many modern bird groups appear.First whale ancestors.First rodents - lagomorphs - armadillos - sirenians - proboscideans - perissodactyls -
60 Ma
55 Ma
37 Ma
63 Ma

46. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
6 Ma
25 Ma
60 Ma
0.3 Ma

47. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
35 Ma
50 Ma
30 Ma
5.5 Ma

48. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
2.5 Ma
33 Ma
0.7 Ma
25 Ma

49. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
15 Ma
40 Ma
30 Ma
34 Ma

50. First bats.
24 Ma
1.7 Ma
4.5 Ma
52 Ma