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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. Paraceratherium evolves.
50 Ma
6.5 Ma
28 Ma
63 Ma

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

3. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
20 Ma
3 Ma
5.5 Ma
4.8 Ma

4. Australopithecines go extinct.
28 Ma
49 Ma
1.7 Ma
26 Ma

5. Paranthropus evolve.
5.4-6.3 Ma
5.5 Ma
2.7 Ma
4.5 Ma

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

7. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
1.5 Ma
5 Ma
2.6 Ma
60 Ma

8. current ice age begins
0.79 Ma
2.6 Ma
0.64 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.
49 Ma
37 Ma
2.5 Ma
0.7 Ma

10. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
20 Ma
15 Ma
60 Ma
1.7 Ma

11. Gastornis evolves.
0.5 Ma
4.8 Ma
2.7 Ma
56 Ma

12. First deer.
63 Ma
56 Ma
50 Ma
25 Ma

13. Gastornis evolves.
26 Ma
56 Ma
0.79 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

14. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
0.6 Ma
28 Ma
26 Ma
30 Ma

15. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
63 Ma
0.6 Ma
0.79 Ma
0.64 Ma

16. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
33 Ma
0.5 Ma
3 Ma
5.5 Ma

17. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
0.2 Ma
0.5 Ma
2.5 Ma
3 Ma

18. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
0.3 Ma
40 Ma
0.6 Ma
4.5 Ma

19. 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 -
5.5 Ma
5 Ma
1.5 Ma
55 Ma

20. 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.
20 Ma
2.5 Ma
10 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

21. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
2.5 Ma
26 Ma
5.5 Ma
3 Ma

22. Paranthropus evolve.
6.5 Ma
2.7 Ma
5.5 Ma
1.7 Ma

23. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
0.3 Ma
6.5 Ma
0.5 Ma
2.7 Ma

24. Australopithecines diversify.
6 Ma
25 Ma
4.8 Ma
18-12 Ma

25. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
40 Ma
63 Ma
4.5 Ma
35 Ma

26. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
3 Ma
0.5 Ma
40 Ma
5 Ma

27. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
40 Ma
35 Ma
25 Ma
60 Ma

28. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
30 Ma
63 Ma
28 Ma
18-12 Ma

29. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
63 Ma
2.7 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
2.5 Ma

30. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
25 Ma
52 Ma
63 Ma
1.5 Ma

31. Australopithecines diversify.
60 Ma
0.2 Ma
6 Ma
1.7 Ma

32. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
15 Ma
49 Ma
2.6 Ma
1.2 Ma

33. First creodonts.
10 Ma
63 Ma
2.6 Ma
34 Ma

34. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
24 Ma
50 Ma
56 Ma
0.79 Ma

35. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
50 Ma
60 Ma
4.5 Ma
35 Ma

36. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
2.5 Ma
0.3 Ma
0.79 Ma
63 Ma

37. Emergence of the first true elephants.
26 Ma
33 Ma
6.5 Ma
10 Ma

38. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
15 Ma
33 Ma
0.2 Ma
20 Ma

39. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
36 Ma
1.5 Ma
63 Ma
0.3 Ma

40. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
5 Ma
1.5 Ma
24 Ma
20 Ma

41. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
35 Ma
49 Ma
37 Ma
2.5 Ma

42. Estimated age of the Hominidae/Hylobatidae (great apes vs. gibbons) split.
60 Ma
52 Ma
5 Ma
18-12 Ma

43. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
0.7 Ma
30 Ma
35 Ma
55 Ma

44. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
15 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.6 Ma
0.6 Ma

45. current ice age begins
0.7 Ma
35 Ma
2.6 Ma
55 Ma

46. Neanderthals evolve.
3 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.35 Ma
0.5 Ma

47. Yellowstone caldera erupts
2.6 Ma
0.64 Ma
37 Ma
52 Ma

48. Cats evolve.
6.5 Ma
5 Ma
63 Ma
34 Ma

49. Insects diversify.First large horses.
10 Ma
50 Ma
18-12 Ma
2.7 Ma

50. Yellowstone caldera erupts
5 Ma
1.7 Ma
0.35 Ma
0.64 Ma