Paleocene
First mammal epoch
The Paleocene is the earliest epoch of the Cenozoic era, spanning roughly 66 to 56 million years ago—beginning immediately after the asteroid impact that ended the dinosaurs.
Mammals diversified rapidly during this period, filling ecological niches left vacant.
Paleocene fossils show the ancestors of many modern mammal groups.
Large-scale species elimination
- K-Pg boundaryGeological extinction horizon
- ecological nichesSpecies' functional roles in ecosystems
- diversificationExpanding into varied areas
- survivorsThose still alive after
Parallel geological layers
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- paleomagnetismRemnant magnetism in rocks
tectonics · basins · fossils · sedimentary · isotope · K-Pg boundary · iridium layer · continental drift
Climate-controlled plant enclosure
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- subtropicalClimate near the tropics
- humidContaining much moisture
- paleoclimatologyStudy of prehistoric climates
carbon cycle · ice-free · tropical forests · sea level · ocean temperature
Early Cenozoic era division
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- MiocenePre-Pliocene geological epoch
- PlioceneLate Neogene epoch
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
Holocene · Jurassic · Triassic · Permian · Carboniferous · Devonian · Silurian · Ordovician
Order of large semiaquatic reptiles
- early primatesAncestral members of our order
- placental mammalsAnimals with internal fetal nourishment
mass extinction
Large-scale species elimination
- K-Pg boundaryGeological extinction horizon
- ecological nichesSpecies' functional roles in ecosystems
- diversificationExpanding into varied areas
strata
Parallel geological layers
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
paleomagnetism · tectonics · basins · fossils · sedimentary · isotope · K-Pg boundary · iridium layer · continental drift · volcanism
greenhouse
Climate-controlled plant enclosure
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- subtropicalClimate near the tropics
- humidContaining much moisture
paleoclimatology · carbon cycle · ice-free · tropical forests · sea level · ocean temperature
Paleogene
Early Cenozoic era division
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- MiocenePre-Pliocene geological epoch
- PlioceneLate Neogene epoch
Pleistocene · Holocene · Jurassic · Triassic · Permian · Carboniferous · Devonian · Silurian · Ordovician · Cambrian
crocodilians
Order of large semiaquatic reptiles
- early primatesAncestral members of our order
- placental mammalsAnimals with internal fetal nourishment
- geologic timeeons, eon, epochs, era, epoch
- CenozoicMiocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Holocene, Quaternary
- paleoclimatepaleoclimate, ice age, ice ages, ice cores, ice core
- Historical AgesStone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Copper Age, Golden Age
- paleontologydinosaurs, fossil, paleontology, fossil record, dinosaur bones
- Climate Erasice age, glacial period, interglacial, Little Ice Age, cooling period
PaleoceneHolocene
Current geological epoch
Precambrian · Pleistocene · Quaternary · Anthropocene · Archean