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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. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
20 Ma
49 Ma
30 Ma
15 Ma

2. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
4.5 Ma
35 Ma
37 Ma
52 Ma

3. Insects diversify.First large horses.
10 Ma
4.8 Ma
26 Ma
0.79 Ma

4. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
0.5 Ma
18-12 Ma
60 Ma
50 Ma

5. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
0.79 Ma
52 Ma
24 Ma
55 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.
25 Ma
2.5 Ma
0.5 Ma
1.5 Ma

7. Africa collides with Eurasia - closing the Tethys Sea. Divergence of cat and dog ancestors. Primates diversify. Brontotheres - tapirs - rhinos - and camels evolve.
50 Ma
1.7 Ma
35 Ma
1.5 Ma

8. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
18-12 Ma
60 Ma
24 Ma
1.2 Ma

9. First members of the Hominini tribe.
1.5 Ma
6.5 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.64 Ma

10. Gastornis evolves.
56 Ma
26 Ma
6.5 Ma
0.2 Ma

11. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
33 Ma
50 Ma
0.7 Ma
25 Ma

12. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
5.5 Ma
37 Ma
15 Ma
25 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 -
55 Ma
60 Ma
28 Ma
63 Ma

14. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
1.5 Ma
33 Ma
0.3 Ma
36 Ma

15. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
33 Ma
5 Ma
6 Ma
4.5 Ma

16. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
49 Ma
1.2 Ma
34 Ma
4.5 Ma

17. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
1.5 Ma
5 Ma
36 Ma
26 Ma

18. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
15 Ma
20 Ma
6 Ma
28 Ma

19. Insects diversify.First large horses.
50 Ma
10 Ma
24 Ma
25 Ma

20. Whales return to the water.
18-12 Ma
49 Ma
36 Ma
6.5 Ma

21. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
24 Ma
52 Ma
4.8 Ma
0.7 Ma

22. 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 -
35 Ma
1.7 Ma
0.64 Ma
55 Ma

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

24. Gastornis evolves.
0.6 Ma
60 Ma
56 Ma
2.5 Ma

25. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
4.5 Ma
0.64 Ma
49 Ma
63 Ma

26. 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.
37 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
20 Ma
2.5 Ma

27. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
1.2 Ma
26 Ma
5 Ma
36 Ma

28. Australopithecines go extinct.
25 Ma
2.7 Ma
1.7 Ma
36 Ma

29. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
2.7 Ma
24 Ma
35 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

30. Estimated age of the Hominidae/Hylobatidae (great apes vs. gibbons) split.
18-12 Ma
1.7 Ma
5 Ma
2.6 Ma

31. Paranthropus evolve.
34 Ma
40 Ma
52 Ma
2.7 Ma

32. Paraceratherium evolves.
2.5 Ma
28 Ma
34 Ma
0.7 Ma

33. Whales return to the water.
49 Ma
20 Ma
3 Ma
2.5 Ma

34. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
0.79 Ma
0.5 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
24 Ma

35. current ice age begins
2.6 Ma
15 Ma
5 Ma
3 Ma

36. Neanderthals evolve.
60 Ma
0.35 Ma
60 Ma
1.7 Ma

37. The mammoth appears.
5 Ma
15 Ma
49 Ma
4.8 Ma

38. First deer.
0.7 Ma
28 Ma
6.5 Ma
25 Ma

39. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
10 Ma
0.79 Ma
55 Ma
0.64 Ma

40. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
25 Ma
40 Ma
36 Ma
1.5 Ma

41. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
34 Ma
4.5 Ma
36 Ma
18-12 Ma

42. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
36 Ma
4.5 Ma
24 Ma
6 Ma

43. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
2.6 Ma
52 Ma
52 Ma
30 Ma

44. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
5.4-6.3 Ma
15 Ma
20 Ma
1.5 Ma

45. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
0.3 Ma
0.35 Ma
34 Ma
0.5 Ma

46. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
15 Ma
2.6 Ma
36 Ma
3 Ma

47. First Nimravids.
52 Ma
6 Ma
49 Ma
37 Ma

48. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
36 Ma
33 Ma
0.6 Ma
63 Ma

49. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
52 Ma
4.5 Ma
15 Ma
0.7 Ma

50. First members of the Hominini tribe.
15 Ma
6.5 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
49 Ma