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

2. Insects diversify.First large horses.
2.7 Ma
2.7 Ma
10 Ma
1.2 Ma

3. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
0.2 Ma
0.3 Ma
1.7 Ma
40 Ma

4. current ice age begins
0.3 Ma
56 Ma
2.6 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

5. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
1.2 Ma
35 Ma
10 Ma
6 Ma

6. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
52 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.5 Ma
5 Ma

7. Estimated age of the Homo/Pan (human vs. chimpanzee) split.
33 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
63 Ma
4.8 Ma

8. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
0.64 Ma
40 Ma
24 Ma
28 Ma

9. Estimated age of the Hominidae/Hylobatidae (great apes vs. gibbons) split.
18-12 Ma
2.5 Ma
5.5 Ma
49 Ma

10. Gastornis evolves.
2.7 Ma
25 Ma
56 Ma
60 Ma

11. First creodonts.
60 Ma
5.5 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
63 Ma

12. Paraceratherium evolves.
0.64 Ma
28 Ma
2.6 Ma
2.7 Ma

13. First Nimravids.
33 Ma
24 Ma
10 Ma
37 Ma

14. 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 -
0.6 Ma
55 Ma
24 Ma
0.5 Ma

15. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
60 Ma
33 Ma
6.5 Ma
5 Ma

16. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
55 Ma
2.5 Ma
1.2 Ma
26 Ma

17. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
2.5 Ma
36 Ma
28 Ma
40 Ma

18. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
36 Ma
0.6 Ma
0.3 Ma
49 Ma

19. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
33 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
24 Ma
0.35 Ma

20. Approximate age of Canis lupus. Middle Stone Age begins in Africa. Gigantopithecus evolves.
0.3 Ma
56 Ma
28 Ma
10 Ma

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

22. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
28 Ma
60 Ma
3 Ma
1.2 Ma

23. 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.
6.5 Ma
50 Ma
2.5 Ma
0.2 Ma

24. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
6.5 Ma
10 Ma
20 Ma
4.8 Ma

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

26. First creodonts.
40 Ma
63 Ma
10 Ma
36 Ma

27. Emergence of the first true elephants.
26 Ma
0.6 Ma
18-12 Ma
56 Ma

28. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
36 Ma
4.8 Ma
0.6 Ma
1.2 Ma

29. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
26 Ma
33 Ma
10 Ma
20 Ma

30. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
0.6 Ma
6 Ma
15 Ma
0.2 Ma

31. Whales return to the water.
25 Ma
34 Ma
49 Ma
25 Ma

32. Age of the Catarrhini parvorder; first canines evolve. Lepidopteran insects become recognizable. Gastornis goes extinct. Basilosaurus evolves.
6.5 Ma
1.7 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
40 Ma

33. Insects diversify.First large horses.
5.4-6.3 Ma
1.7 Ma
0.2 Ma
10 Ma

34. Australopithecines diversify.
6 Ma
0.3 Ma
18-12 Ma
0.64 Ma

35. Homo antecessor evolves. Paranthropus dies out.
28 Ma
1.2 Ma
0.2 Ma
49 Ma

36. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
1.2 Ma
18-12 Ma
0.2 Ma
34 Ma

37. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
63 Ma
36 Ma
63 Ma
24 Ma

38. Appearance of the genus Australopithecus
4.5 Ma
35 Ma
0.3 Ma
2.5 Ma

39. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
0.2 Ma
24 Ma
0.7 Ma
34 Ma

40. First bats.
1.7 Ma
26 Ma
1.2 Ma
52 Ma

41. Emergence of the first true elephants.
4.5 Ma
26 Ma
10 Ma
0.79 Ma

42. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
20 Ma
5.5 Ma
49 Ma
37 Ma

43. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
4.8 Ma
5.5 Ma
2.5 Ma
2.5 Ma

44. Brontotheres go extinct. Pigs evolve. South America separates from Antarctica - becoming an island continent.
28 Ma
30 Ma
37 Ma
2.5 Ma

45. First thylacinid marsupials evolve.
6 Ma
28 Ma
33 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma

46. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
4.5 Ma
40 Ma
60 Ma
0.35 Ma

47. Cats evolve.
50 Ma
34 Ma
0.6 Ma
2.6 Ma

48. Australopithecines go extinct.
1.5 Ma
15 Ma
1.7 Ma
3 Ma

49. 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
2.5 Ma
1.7 Ma
1.5 Ma

50. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
0.79 Ma
37 Ma
60 Ma
60 Ma