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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. Gastornis evolves.
52 Ma
1.7 Ma
63 Ma
56 Ma

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

3. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
5.5 Ma
1.7 Ma
6.5 Ma
35 Ma

4. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
55 Ma
0.5 Ma
18-12 Ma
63 Ma

5. The mammoth appears.
4.5 Ma
49 Ma
4.8 Ma
24 Ma

6. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
2.7 Ma
20 Ma
60 Ma
5 Ma

7. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
33 Ma
25 Ma
55 Ma
15 Ma

8. Gastornis evolves.
49 Ma
56 Ma
10 Ma
6.5 Ma

9. Paranthropus evolve.
60 Ma
2.6 Ma
6.5 Ma
2.7 Ma

10. Yellowstone caldera erupts
6.5 Ma
36 Ma
0.64 Ma
2.5 Ma

11. Neanderthals evolve.
0.35 Ma
0.3 Ma
1.7 Ma
1.2 Ma

12. Insects diversify.First large horses.
0.6 Ma
63 Ma
4.8 Ma
10 Ma

13. Africa collides with Eurasia - closing the Tethys Sea. Divergence of cat and dog ancestors. Primates diversify. Brontotheres - tapirs - rhinos - and camels evolve.
2.7 Ma
6 Ma
50 Ma
0.3 Ma

14. First members of the Hominini tribe.
0.64 Ma
0.2 Ma
0.7 Ma
6.5 Ma

15. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
0.5 Ma
36 Ma
33 Ma
1.2 Ma

16. Australopithecines diversify.
6 Ma
40 Ma
0.5 Ma
52 Ma

17. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
1.5 Ma
4.8 Ma
3 Ma
60 Ma

18. 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.
2.5 Ma
30 Ma
6.5 Ma
20 Ma

19. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
24 Ma
2.7 Ma
1.5 Ma
6.5 Ma

20. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
60 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
1.2 Ma
36 Ma

21. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
37 Ma
1.7 Ma
1.2 Ma
55 Ma

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

23. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
55 Ma
0.64 Ma
5.5 Ma
49 Ma

24. 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 -
6.5 Ma
40 Ma
50 Ma
55 Ma

25. First deer.
63 Ma
2.7 Ma
4.5 Ma
25 Ma

26. Yellowstone caldera erupts
0.6 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.64 Ma
6 Ma

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

28. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
5 Ma
5.5 Ma
3 Ma
40 Ma

29. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
5.5 Ma
1.2 Ma
0.79 Ma
33 Ma

30. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
5.4-6.3 Ma
28 Ma
6 Ma
60 Ma

31. First Nimravids.
0.5 Ma
5.5 Ma
0.35 Ma
37 Ma

32. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
33 Ma
63 Ma
0.7 Ma
3 Ma

33. 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.
2.5 Ma
52 Ma
0.3 Ma
15 Ma

34. Cats evolve.
15 Ma
25 Ma
34 Ma
3 Ma

35. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
24 Ma
0.2 Ma
56 Ma
52 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 -
0.79 Ma
0.7 Ma
55 Ma
18-12 Ma

37. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
33 Ma
40 Ma
20 Ma
6 Ma

38. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
24 Ma
20 Ma
0.6 Ma
3 Ma

39. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
20 Ma
26 Ma
49 Ma
5 Ma

40. Paraceratherium evolves.
30 Ma
1.2 Ma
20 Ma
28 Ma

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

42. First deer.
25 Ma
1.2 Ma
5.5 Ma
52 Ma

43. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
0.64 Ma
2.5 Ma
1.2 Ma
0.2 Ma

44. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
40 Ma
25 Ma
24 Ma
26 Ma

45. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
1.2 Ma
63 Ma
36 Ma
52 Ma

46. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
3 Ma
1.7 Ma
2.5 Ma
63 Ma

47. Pliocene epoch begins.First tree sloths and hippopotami.First large vultures. Nimravids go extinct.
2.6 Ma
5.5 Ma
1.2 Ma
5 Ma

48. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
2.6 Ma
30 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
40 Ma

49. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
0.3 Ma
26 Ma
37 Ma
36 Ma

50. Emergence of the first true elephants.
5.5 Ma
26 Ma
0.3 Ma
2.6 Ma