| Pliocene | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Previous period Miocene |
Following period Pleistocene | ||||||||||
The Pliocene or the Pliocene epoch is the second and last epoch of the Neogene, and the the fifth and last epoch of the Tertiary, located between Miocene and Pleistocene. It began about 9.3 million years ago and ended 2 million years ago, lasting for about 7 million years.
Facts[]
During the Pliocene the northern hemisphere experienced a gradual change of the climate that became increasingly dry and cool. In the southern hemisphere, Antarctic ice continued to grow. The Pliocene plants became more cold tolerant, open spaces increased (Next of Kin).
Pliocene animals include the direct ancestors of modern horses, elephants, rhinoceroses, hoofed animals (Blood Brothers, etc). This was the time when the more advances species of Australopithecus began to evolve into human ancestors in Africa. Other animals living in Africa alongside Australopithecus include the highly aggressive elephant-like Deinotherium, the early sabre-tooth cat Dinofelis and the gentle herbivores like Ancylotherium. In Europe and China, early species of Megaloceros begin to appear and spread out over Eurasia. Early species of mammoth move upward from Africa to Europe.
Animals[]
- Ancylotherium
- Australopithecus
- Bees
- Birds
- Black Eagle
- Phorusrhacos
- Vulture
- Zebrapich
- Cetotherium
- Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni
- Deinotherium
- Dinofelis
- Doedicurus
- Eland
- Fish
- Gigantopithecus
- Hippidion
- Homo habilis
- Homo rudolfensis
- Impala
- Jackal
- Ladybugs
- Lion
- Macrauchenia
- Megaloceros
- Megalodon
- Megatherium
- Odobenocetops
- Paranthropus boisei
- Smilodon
- Warthog
- White rhinoceros
- Zebra