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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. The mammoth appears.
4.8 Ma
63 Ma
10 Ma
24 Ma

2. 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.
33 Ma
2.5 Ma
63 Ma
35 Ma

3. Gastornis evolves.
37 Ma
56 Ma
1.5 Ma
34 Ma

4. Africa collides with Eurasia - closing the Tethys Sea. Divergence of cat and dog ancestors. Primates diversify. Brontotheres - tapirs - rhinos - and camels evolve.
0.7 Ma
36 Ma
2.6 Ma
50 Ma

5. First creodonts.
49 Ma
6.5 Ma
63 Ma
2.5 Ma

6. Appearance of the genus Ardipithecus
5.5 Ma
33 Ma
26 Ma
5 Ma

7. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
3 Ma
52 Ma
0.3 Ma
55 Ma

8. Insects diversify.First large horses.
30 Ma
28 Ma
10 Ma
50 Ma

9. Earliest demonstrable evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
2.7 Ma
0.79 Ma
2.7 Ma
49 Ma

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

11. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
60 Ma
18-12 Ma
56 Ma
2.6 Ma

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

13. Grasslands first appear. Glyptodonts - ground sloths - peccaries - dogs - eagles - and hawks evolve.
4.8 Ma
60 Ma
35 Ma
10 Ma

14. Earliest possible evidence of the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus
28 Ma
1.5 Ma
0.64 Ma
40 Ma

15. Paranthropus evolve.
5.5 Ma
6.5 Ma
35 Ma
2.7 Ma

16. Cats evolve.
0.6 Ma
28 Ma
5.5 Ma
34 Ma

17. First members of the Hominini tribe.
26 Ma
0.35 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
6.5 Ma

18. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
6.5 Ma
20 Ma
37 Ma
40 Ma

19. Emergence of the first true elephants.
26 Ma
2.7 Ma
0.5 Ma
2.5 Ma

20. First deer.
25 Ma
10 Ma
34 Ma
0.6 Ma

21. Neanderthals evolve.
0.35 Ma
26 Ma
0.6 Ma
1.7 Ma

22. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
1.2 Ma
24 Ma
4.5 Ma
0.5 Ma

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

24. First creodonts.
4.5 Ma
24 Ma
63 Ma
36 Ma

25. Middle Paleolithic begins. Appearance of Homo sapiens in Africa
0.2 Ma
2.6 Ma
10 Ma
0.64 Ma

26. colonisation of Eurasia by Homo erectus
4.5 Ma
33 Ma
4.8 Ma
0.5 Ma

27. Australopithecines diversify.
6 Ma
0.5 Ma
24 Ma
2.5 Ma

28. Whales return to the water.
49 Ma
0.79 Ma
40 Ma
0.7 Ma

29. Paraceratherium evolves.
2.5 Ma
35 Ma
1.2 Ma
28 Ma

30. First Nimravids.
33 Ma
37 Ma
1.7 Ma
49 Ma

31. 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.
5.4-6.3 Ma
5.4-6.3 Ma
28 Ma
2.5 Ma

32. Homo heidelbergensis evolves.
0.6 Ma
63 Ma
6.5 Ma
36 Ma

33. last reversal of the earth's magnetic field
0.64 Ma
1.2 Ma
26 Ma
0.7 Ma

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

35. First deer.
25 Ma
3 Ma
15 Ma
0.5 Ma

36. First Nimravids.
5 Ma
0.79 Ma
34 Ma
37 Ma

37. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
0.7 Ma
3 Ma
24 Ma
4.8 Ma

38. Cats evolve.
5.5 Ma
34 Ma
6.5 Ma
0.5 Ma

39. Insects diversify.First large horses.
5 Ma
4.5 Ma
10 Ma
0.6 Ma

40. Giraffes and giant anteaters evolve.
37 Ma
20 Ma
1.5 Ma
1.7 Ma

41. Isthmus of Panama joins North and South America. Great AmericanInterchange.
0.5 Ma
3 Ma
0.79 Ma
6.5 Ma

42. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
36 Ma
0.3 Ma
50 Ma
5 Ma

43. Neogene period and Miocene epoch begin
24 Ma
28 Ma
15 Ma
55 Ma

44. Yellowstone caldera erupts
1.7 Ma
0.64 Ma
1.7 Ma
1.5 Ma

45. End of Eocene - start of Oligocene epoch.
6.5 Ma
30 Ma
36 Ma
0.79 Ma

46. Estimated age of the Hominidae/Hylobatidae (great apes vs. gibbons) split.
49 Ma
30 Ma
18-12 Ma
6.5 Ma

47. Yellowstone caldera erupts
0.64 Ma
33 Ma
2.6 Ma
2.7 Ma

48. current ice age begins
1.5 Ma
2.6 Ma
2.7 Ma
26 Ma

49. Australopithecines go extinct.
1.7 Ma
4.8 Ma
20 Ma
55 Ma

50. Evolution of the first primates and miacids. Flightless birds diversify.
30 Ma
5.5 Ma
28 Ma
60 Ma