What is the Cenozoic Era?

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The Cenozoic Era is the third and current era in the Phanerozoic Eon, and is one of three, the two other eras being the Paleozoic and Mesozoic. Cenozoic is derived from Greek and means "new life."

The Cenozoic began about 65 million years ago in the wake of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, and continues to the present. It is now subdivided into three geologic periods rather than two: the Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary. The Tertiary period is no longer used by geologists.

This era is known for the diversification of mammals and birds into modern forms, the rise of humans, and the advent of modern Earth. Mammals rapidly flourished after the extinction of the dinosaurs, and so did the birds. Grasses and flowers spread throughout most of the world. The continents continued to drift towards their current positions as the Earth's overall climate went on a cooling and drying trend. Finally, humans appeared.

What is the Cenozoic Era?

Wiki User

2011-05-20 21:48:26

2011-05-20 21:48:26

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