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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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This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. 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.
0.2 Ma
37 Ma
33 Ma
2.5 Ma

2. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
26 Ma
0.35 Ma
52 Ma
20 Ma

3. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
1.5 Ma
18-12 Ma
60 Ma
0.7 Ma

4. Cats evolve.
3 Ma
34 Ma
0.79 Ma
3 Ma

5. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
60 Ma
24 Ma
0.6 Ma
25 Ma

6. 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.
34 Ma
0.3 Ma
0.2 Ma
2.5 Ma

7. Whales return to the water.
49 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.79 Ma
34 Ma

8. First Nimravids.
0.35 Ma
6.5 Ma
6.5 Ma
37 Ma

9. Australopithecines go extinct.
40 Ma
0.64 Ma
40 Ma
1.7 Ma

10. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
28 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.3 Ma
20 Ma

11. Neanderthals evolve.
37 Ma
0.35 Ma
2.6 Ma
33 Ma

12. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
24 Ma
0.35 Ma
3 Ma
0.6 Ma

13. 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 -
3 Ma
55 Ma
5 Ma
40 Ma

14. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
25 Ma
33 Ma
1.2 Ma
0.35 Ma

15. The mammoth appears.
4.8 Ma
26 Ma
0.3 Ma
2.6 Ma

16. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
10 Ma
37 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.35 Ma

17. First creodonts.
63 Ma
28 Ma
20 Ma
4.5 Ma

18. Gastornis evolves.
3 Ma
1.2 Ma
56 Ma
35 Ma

19. Paranthropus evolve.
40 Ma
37 Ma
2.7 Ma
28 Ma

20. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
36 Ma
1.7 Ma
28 Ma
40 Ma

21. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
0.79 Ma
0.3 Ma
0.6 Ma
26 Ma

22. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
2.6 Ma
33 Ma
6 Ma
55 Ma

23. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
1.5 Ma
36 Ma
4.8 Ma
56 Ma

24. Emergence of the first true elephants.
0.64 Ma
0.5 Ma
26 Ma
0.7 Ma

25. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
36 Ma
0.3 Ma
30 Ma
1.7 Ma

26. 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 -
3 Ma
0.5 Ma
0.3 Ma
55 Ma

27. First creodonts.
4.5 Ma
4.8 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
63 Ma

28. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
2.7 Ma
1.7 Ma
33 Ma
0.5 Ma

29. current ice age begins
4.5 Ma
2.6 Ma
18-12 Ma
28 Ma

30. First members of the Hominini tribe.
6.5 Ma
0.7 Ma
0.2 Ma
0.7 Ma

31. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
20 Ma
0.3 Ma
0.6 Ma
0.79 Ma

32. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
60 Ma
2.7 Ma
0.3 Ma
25 Ma

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

34. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
5 Ma
25 Ma
30 Ma
0.5 Ma

35. Insects diversify.First large horses.
37 Ma
10 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.3 Ma

36. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
0.5 Ma
33 Ma
34 Ma
6 Ma

37. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
0.5 Ma
20 Ma
0.7 Ma
1.5 Ma

38. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
30 Ma
28 Ma
56 Ma
36 Ma

39. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
33 Ma
0.6 Ma
20 Ma
3 Ma

40. Paranthropus evolve.
2.7 Ma
2.5 Ma
33 Ma
49 Ma

41. Neanderthals evolve.
2.7 Ma
5 Ma
0.35 Ma
0.79 Ma

42. First deer.
36 Ma
5 Ma
2.5 Ma
25 Ma

43. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
1.7 Ma
0.2 Ma
24 Ma
5.5 Ma

44. Africa collides with Eurasia - closing the Tethys Sea. Divergence of cat and dog ancestors. Primates diversify. Brontotheres - tapirs - rhinos - and camels evolve.
63 Ma
5 Ma
4.8 Ma
50 Ma

45. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
24 Ma
55 Ma
50 Ma
4.5 Ma

46. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
5.4-6.3 Ma
15 Ma
18-12 Ma
56 Ma

47. The mammoth appears.
0.64 Ma
4.8 Ma
6 Ma
0.5 Ma

48. Australopithecines diversify.
2.6 Ma
6 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
20 Ma

49. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
60 Ma
2.5 Ma
6 Ma
0.64 Ma

50. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
10 Ma
63 Ma
50 Ma
5.5 Ma