Why is the Cenozoic era is called the age of mammals?

Answer 1

The Cenozoic Era (65 million years ago to now) is known as the age of the mammals because this is the period where mammals came to dominate most environments on Earth.

Although true mammals evolved in the late Triassic Period about 200 million years ago but where generally thought to be small and most certainly overshadowed by Reptiles such as Dinosaurs. When the Dinosaurs and most other large reptiles died out 65 million years ago, mammals started to become more dominant filling the ecological niches that where filled by large reptiles.

Likewise Angiosperms (flowering plants) also shared similar fortunes. Many environments. There was a marked shift from Gymnosperms such as ferns and cycads to flowering plants.

Answer 2

The Cenozoic Era is the postdinosaurian/postMesozoic Era otherwise nicknamed the age of mammals. Mammals began to hugely diversify and radiate during the Cenozoic. The Cenozoic (which from the Greek means Recent Animal) began 65 million years ago and has continued to the present.

The major radiation of animals during the Cenozoic was that of mammals, including the evolution of Homo sapiens.

Answer 3

Because it was during the Cenozoic (the current era of life) that mammals became the dominant group of large higher animals on the planet. The extinction of the dinosaurs made it possible for mammals to diversify and occupy many ecological niches.

Answer 4

The end of the K-T extinction occurred 65.5 million years ago. That was the beginning of the Cenozoic, or age of mammals. Mammals could not have evolved to become so diverse and fill so many niches if the non avian dinosaurs hadn't become extinct.