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Cenozoic History Timeline

Instructions:

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. Neanderthals evolve.
1.7 Ma
0.35 Ma
30 Ma
35 Ma

2. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
60 Ma
28 Ma
52 Ma
33 Ma

3. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
0.7 Ma
15 Ma
0.6 Ma
33 Ma

4. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
5 Ma
2.5 Ma
60 Ma
30 Ma

5. Estimated age of the Hominidae/Hylobatidae (great apes vs. gibbons) split.
55 Ma
18-12 Ma
2.5 Ma
4.8 Ma

6. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
37 Ma
1.7 Ma
0.7 Ma
55 Ma

7. Whales return to the water.
49 Ma
0.6 Ma
2.5 Ma
10 Ma

8. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
5.4-6.3 Ma
2.5 Ma
1.2 Ma
49 Ma

9. 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.
36 Ma
2.5 Ma
15 Ma
0.2 Ma

10. The mammoth appears.
5.5 Ma
49 Ma
4.8 Ma
5 Ma

11. First Nimravids.
0.64 Ma
37 Ma
2.7 Ma
28 Ma

12. First creodonts.
4.8 Ma
56 Ma
63 Ma
37 Ma

13. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
24 Ma
36 Ma
63 Ma
50 Ma

14. Paranthropus evolve.
0.7 Ma
0.2 Ma
37 Ma
2.7 Ma

15. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
1.5 Ma
56 Ma
24 Ma
36 Ma

16. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
33 Ma
0.2 Ma
34 Ma
0.64 Ma

17. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
52 Ma
10 Ma
0.7 Ma
33 Ma

18. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
1.5 Ma
18-12 Ma
0.7 Ma
0.5 Ma

19. First deer.
3 Ma
50 Ma
20 Ma
25 Ma

20. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
0.3 Ma
0.35 Ma
35 Ma
0.2 Ma

21. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
4.8 Ma
0.3 Ma
0.7 Ma
10 Ma

22. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
50 Ma
18-12 Ma
2.6 Ma
40 Ma

23. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
0.79 Ma
0.35 Ma
35 Ma
26 Ma

24. Yellowstone caldera erupts
3 Ma
28 Ma
0.64 Ma
15 Ma

25. 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.
4.5 Ma
2.5 Ma
40 Ma
36 Ma

26. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
0.5 Ma
0.6 Ma
36 Ma
2.5 Ma

27. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
0.2 Ma
4.8 Ma
1.2 Ma
55 Ma

28. Cats evolve.
49 Ma
34 Ma
5 Ma
0.64 Ma

29. Australopithecines diversify.
49 Ma
5.5 Ma
6 Ma
0.5 Ma

30. First bats.
30 Ma
52 Ma
0.6 Ma
49 Ma

31. Gastornis evolves.
25 Ma
56 Ma
60 Ma
1.2 Ma

32. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
55 Ma
0.64 Ma
1.7 Ma
0.6 Ma

33. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
33 Ma
30 Ma
0.79 Ma
0.3 Ma

34. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
0.6 Ma
60 Ma
25 Ma
33 Ma

35. Yellowstone caldera erupts
1.2 Ma
0.64 Ma
33 Ma
1.7 Ma

36. 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 -
24 Ma
37 Ma
55 Ma
33 Ma

37. First bats.
0.5 Ma
0.2 Ma
52 Ma
2.6 Ma

38. First members of the Hominini tribe.
4.5 Ma
18-12 Ma
4.5 Ma
6.5 Ma

39. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
56 Ma
24 Ma
2.5 Ma
2.5 Ma

40. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
40 Ma
1.7 Ma
1.5 Ma
28 Ma

41. current ice age begins
0.5 Ma
2.7 Ma
2.6 Ma
25 Ma

42. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
2.5 Ma
5 Ma
3 Ma
50 Ma

43. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
6 Ma
24 Ma
37 Ma
60 Ma

44. Emergence of the first true elephants.
26 Ma
25 Ma
40 Ma
63 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 -
55 Ma
2.5 Ma
52 Ma
0.5 Ma

46. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
28 Ma
3 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
15 Ma

47. Neanderthals evolve.
18-12 Ma
3 Ma
0.35 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

48. First Nimravids.
4.5 Ma
6 Ma
0.6 Ma
37 Ma

49. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
15 Ma
25 Ma
50 Ma
30 Ma

50. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
0.35 Ma
3 Ma
36 Ma
0.2 Ma