The Virtual Petrified Wood Museum.  Dedicated to the Exhibition and Educational Study of Permineralized Plant Material
Home Button
Science Button
Students Button
Fossils Button
Time Button
Tectonics Button
Taxonomy Button
Anatomy Button
Links Button
Contact Button
Bibliography Button
Paleozoic Drop Down Menu
Mesozoic Drop Down Menu
Cenozoic Drop Down Menu
Cenozoic Era: 65.5 Million Years to Present

The Cenozoic Era is the current geolgoic era of the Phanerozoic Eon and extends from 65.5 Ma to the present. The Cenozoic Eon is divided into three geologic periods that include the Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary. Cenozoic is derived from the Greek terms for recent cen and animal zo (Borror, 1988, pp. 23 & 111). The Cenozoic is best known for the appearance and diversification of modern mammal and bird orders. Grasslands first appear in the Cenozoic and greatly influenced the evolution of many mammals. Many flowering plants and insects evolved to be codependent. Humans first appear during the latter part of this Era. You can explore the periods of this era by clicking on the pictures below or using the drop down menu.

Quarternary


Neogene


Paleogene

Bibliography

Borror, D.J. (1988). Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. California: Mayfield Publishing Company.

©Copyright 2008 by Mike Viney| Website Use |