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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. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
52 Ma
18-12 Ma
26 Ma
60 Ma

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

3. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
52 Ma
6.5 Ma
1.2 Ma
0.3 Ma

4. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
4.5 Ma
5 Ma
50 Ma
26 Ma

5. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
5 Ma
56 Ma
0.6 Ma
0.2 Ma

6. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
15 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.79 Ma
0.5 Ma

7. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
35 Ma
34 Ma
0.2 Ma
20 Ma

8. First members of the Hominini tribe.
0.6 Ma
28 Ma
6.5 Ma
40 Ma

9. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
3 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
20 Ma
0.6 Ma

10. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
20 Ma
0.2 Ma
0.79 Ma
0.5 Ma

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

12. The mammoth appears.
4.8 Ma
0.3 Ma
60 Ma
0.64 Ma

13. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
10 Ma
0.3 Ma
0.64 Ma
33 Ma

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

15. current ice age begins
0.35 Ma
0.7 Ma
2.6 Ma
10 Ma

16. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
0.5 Ma
0.79 Ma
2.6 Ma
18-12 Ma

17. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
25 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.7 Ma
15 Ma

18. Emergence of the first true elephants.
26 Ma
25 Ma
40 Ma
63 Ma

19. 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
2.6 Ma
35 Ma
2.5 Ma

20. Yellowstone caldera erupts
52 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.64 Ma
24 Ma

21. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
5.5 Ma
0.79 Ma
0.5 Ma
2.6 Ma

22. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
36 Ma
40 Ma
35 Ma
10 Ma

23. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
1.7 Ma
6 Ma
1.7 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

24. Cats evolve.
6.5 Ma
34 Ma
0.64 Ma
0.2 Ma

25. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
0.6 Ma
2.7 Ma
2.6 Ma
26 Ma

26. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
5.5 Ma
30 Ma
0.5 Ma
0.79 Ma

27. 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 -
63 Ma
55 Ma
2.7 Ma
5.5 Ma

28. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
30 Ma
0.6 Ma
1.7 Ma
4.8 Ma

29. Australopithecines diversify.
6 Ma
63 Ma
18-12 Ma
1.2 Ma

30. Emergence of the first true elephants.
2.6 Ma
0.6 Ma
5 Ma
26 Ma

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

32. Neanderthals evolve.
2.6 Ma
36 Ma
0.35 Ma
3 Ma

33. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
0.64 Ma
36 Ma
49 Ma
0.79 Ma

34. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
18-12 Ma
20 Ma
2.5 Ma
37 Ma

35. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
24 Ma
20 Ma
5 Ma
5.5 Ma

36. First bats.
52 Ma
35 Ma
33 Ma
15 Ma

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

38. The mammoth appears.
0.6 Ma
1.5 Ma
1.5 Ma
4.8 Ma

39. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
20 Ma
26 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.2 Ma

40. Paraceratherium evolves.
28 Ma
0.35 Ma
0.5 Ma
2.5 Ma

41. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
24 Ma
0.2 Ma
33 Ma
40 Ma

42. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
0.6 Ma
56 Ma
28 Ma
40 Ma

43. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
2.5 Ma
30 Ma
25 Ma
15 Ma

44. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
36 Ma
0.3 Ma
24 Ma
50 Ma

45. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
2.7 Ma
0.3 Ma
20 Ma
15 Ma

46. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
33 Ma
5.5 Ma
30 Ma
34 Ma

47. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
34 Ma
0.79 Ma
0.64 Ma
1.2 Ma

48. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
55 Ma
4.8 Ma
0.35 Ma
1.5 Ma

49. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
40 Ma
28 Ma
10 Ma
37 Ma

50. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
24 Ma
0.5 Ma
63 Ma
1.5 Ma