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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.
0.7 Ma
63 Ma
28 Ma
52 Ma

2. Gastornis evolves.
37 Ma
1.7 Ma
56 Ma
26 Ma

3. First deer.
0.7 Ma
25 Ma
6.5 Ma
0.35 Ma

4. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
0.3 Ma
0.79 Ma
35 Ma
63 Ma

5. Gastornis evolves.
56 Ma
63 Ma
35 Ma
0.2 Ma

6. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
60 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.2 Ma
10 Ma

7. Cats evolve.
24 Ma
37 Ma
34 Ma
0.3 Ma

8. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
40 Ma
0.2 Ma
0.6 Ma
2.6 Ma

9. current ice age begins
40 Ma
30 Ma
26 Ma
2.6 Ma

10. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
55 Ma
40 Ma
35 Ma
0.6 Ma

11. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
5.4-6.3 Ma
24 Ma
1.2 Ma
30 Ma

12. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
37 Ma
3 Ma
25 Ma
30 Ma

13. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
36 Ma
15 Ma
49 Ma
35 Ma

14. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
20 Ma
24 Ma
0.5 Ma
35 Ma

15. First deer.
25 Ma
37 Ma
4.8 Ma
35 Ma

16. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
18-12 Ma
15 Ma
6 Ma
1.2 Ma

17. Neanderthals evolve.
4.5 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.35 Ma
2.6 Ma

18. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
6 Ma
33 Ma
6.5 Ma
20 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.
36 Ma
2.5 Ma
6 Ma
6.5 Ma

20. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
18-12 Ma
0.3 Ma
50 Ma
0.35 Ma

21. Cats evolve.
34 Ma
2.7 Ma
4.5 Ma
52 Ma

22. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
0.2 Ma
26 Ma
18-12 Ma
52 Ma

23. Neanderthals evolve.
0.35 Ma
0.3 Ma
0.5 Ma
6 Ma

24. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
40 Ma
0.5 Ma
18-12 Ma
0.3 Ma

25. First Nimravids.
37 Ma
20 Ma
40 Ma
1.5 Ma

26. current ice age begins
1.2 Ma
0.6 Ma
4.5 Ma
2.6 Ma

27. Yellowstone caldera erupts
30 Ma
0.5 Ma
26 Ma
0.64 Ma

28. First mastodons - bovids - and kangaroos. Australian megafauna diversify.
60 Ma
0.64 Ma
15 Ma
25 Ma

29. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
0.7 Ma
30 Ma
55 Ma
28 Ma

30. Whales return to the water.
55 Ma
49 Ma
0.79 Ma
5 Ma

31. The mammoth appears.
55 Ma
33 Ma
2.6 Ma
4.8 Ma

32. Paranthropus evolve.
6.5 Ma
0.7 Ma
20 Ma
2.7 Ma

33. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
20 Ma
5.5 Ma
1.2 Ma
26 Ma

34. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
63 Ma
36 Ma
0.2 Ma
50 Ma

35. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
0.64 Ma
0.6 Ma
50 Ma
28 Ma

36. Paranthropus evolve.
24 Ma
56 Ma
2.7 Ma
6.5 Ma

37. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
1.5 Ma
0.6 Ma
24 Ma
0.3 Ma

38. The mammoth appears.
1.5 Ma
36 Ma
4.8 Ma
1.2 Ma

39. First members of the Hominini tribe.
1.5 Ma
6.5 Ma
20 Ma
5.5 Ma

40. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
1.7 Ma
5.5 Ma
28 Ma
1.7 Ma

41. Insects diversify.First large horses.
36 Ma
2.5 Ma
15 Ma
10 Ma

42. First Nimravids.
37 Ma
0.64 Ma
6.5 Ma
2.6 Ma

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

44. 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
26 Ma
28 Ma
30 Ma

45. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
0.5 Ma
6 Ma
1.7 Ma
0.79 Ma

46. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
10 Ma
30 Ma
50 Ma
60 Ma

47. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
0.35 Ma
40 Ma
20 Ma
0.7 Ma

48. Emergence of the first true elephants.
0.6 Ma
26 Ma
33 Ma
0.3 Ma

49. Insects diversify.First large horses.
10 Ma
30 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
0.35 Ma

50. Australopithecines go extinct.
0.7 Ma
0.3 Ma
1.7 Ma
55 Ma