Cenozoic History Timeline

Instructions:

• Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
• If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
• Match each statement with the correct term.
• Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

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. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
25 Ma
3 Ma
0.79 Ma
6.5 Ma


2. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
0.5 Ma
2.6 Ma
55 Ma
30 Ma


3. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
0.3 Ma
1.7 Ma
20 Ma
6.5 Ma


4. Cats evolve.
5.4-6.3 Ma
6 Ma
34 Ma
4.5 Ma


5. First bats.
1.5 Ma
60 Ma
52 Ma
0.3 Ma


6. Emergence of the first true elephants.
18-12 Ma
0.7 Ma
26 Ma
60 Ma


7. current ice age begins
18-12 Ma
2.6 Ma
60 Ma
2.7 Ma


8. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
4.8 Ma
18-12 Ma
1.5 Ma
0.79 Ma


9. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
5 Ma
0.3 Ma
3 Ma
60 Ma


10. Yellowstone caldera erupts
0.64 Ma
1.7 Ma
28 Ma
1.2 Ma


11. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
40 Ma
0.3 Ma
60 Ma
34 Ma


12. First Nimravids.
10 Ma
34 Ma
3 Ma
37 Ma


13. Paraceratherium evolves.
3 Ma
28 Ma
6.5 Ma
56 Ma


14. First creodonts.
63 Ma
20 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.79 Ma


15. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
0.35 Ma
35 Ma
0.3 Ma
55 Ma


16. Yellowstone caldera erupts
2.6 Ma
10 Ma
0.6 Ma
0.64 Ma


17. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
37 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
18-12 Ma
0.35 Ma


18. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
0.7 Ma
24 Ma
34 Ma
55 Ma


19. Australopithecines go extinct.
1.7 Ma
63 Ma
2.5 Ma
1.5 Ma


20. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
0.2 Ma
34 Ma
0.5 Ma
5.5 Ma


21. Gastornis evolves.
0.6 Ma
1.5 Ma
63 Ma
56 Ma


22. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
50 Ma
0.6 Ma
55 Ma
1.2 Ma


23. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
2.5 Ma
0.6 Ma
18-12 Ma
63 Ma


24. Neanderthals evolve.
30 Ma
34 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.35 Ma


25. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
30 Ma
0.6 Ma
1.5 Ma
4.5 Ma


26. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
24 Ma
0.6 Ma
35 Ma
55 Ma


27. Paranthropus evolve.
2.7 Ma
34 Ma
49 Ma
40 Ma


28. Gastornis evolves.
52 Ma
56 Ma
37 Ma
63 Ma


29. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
1.5 Ma
28 Ma
1.2 Ma
0.3 Ma


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


31. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
3 Ma
24 Ma
2.6 Ma
49 Ma


32. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
0.6 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.35 Ma
60 Ma


33. First bats.
34 Ma
0.64 Ma
33 Ma
52 Ma


34. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
15 Ma
10 Ma
4.8 Ma
56 Ma


35. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
3 Ma
5 Ma
25 Ma
35 Ma


36. First creodonts.
5.4-6.3 Ma
33 Ma
30 Ma
63 Ma


37. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
0.3 Ma
5.5 Ma
20 Ma
60 Ma


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


39. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
6 Ma
0.64 Ma
5.5 Ma
2.5 Ma


40. Paranthropus evolve.
60 Ma
33 Ma
2.7 Ma
40 Ma


41. First members of the Hominini tribe.
1.7 Ma
6.5 Ma
1.7 Ma
1.2 Ma


42. First members of the Hominini tribe.
33 Ma
6.5 Ma
0.79 Ma
24 Ma


43. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
60 Ma
1.5 Ma
2.6 Ma
4.5 Ma


44. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
10 Ma
4.5 Ma
34 Ma
2.6 Ma


45. Australopithecines diversify.
6 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.5 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma


46. Insects diversify.First large horses.
10 Ma
60 Ma
0.2 Ma
1.2 Ma


47. Paraceratherium evolves.
28 Ma
6 Ma
0.7 Ma
60 Ma


48. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
0.6 Ma
63 Ma
30 Ma
33 Ma


49. current ice age begins
4.8 Ma
2.6 Ma
5 Ma
2.5 Ma


50. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
5.4-6.3 Ma
10 Ma
50 Ma
56 Ma