Cenozoic Era – Time for Ancient Life
The Cenozoic Era, named after the Greek for ‘New Life’, is split into three geological periods.
Cenozoic Era 1: Paleogene Period – Mammals and Birds Flourish
Key Events
- Continents drift towards their current positions.
- With the dinosaurs extinct, mammals and birds become dominant.
- Mammals evolve, grow larger and diversify:
- Species including the first rhinos, horses, camels, bears, dogs and cats occupy the land.
- The first primates (relatives of humans) take to the trees.
- Cetaceans (which include whales and dolphins) evolve in the seas.
- Plants adapt to the cool conditions, with the first grasses appearing.
![Illustration of life during the Paleogene Period.](https://cornwallseatostars.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sea-to-Stars-Line-elements-A3-Finals_Page_13-724x1024.jpg)
Facts, Debates & Trivia
- The Paleogene name is derived from the Greek for ‘Old Birth’.
- The success of mammals is attributed to their development of the placenta, which enablesthem to protect and nourish babies in the womb and give birth to relatively mature infants.
![](https://cornwallseatostars.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cornwall-Sea-to-Stars-V5-Proofs_Page_14-341x1024.jpg)
Conditions
- The climate is warm for the first 30 millions years.
- During the remaining time, it becomes cool and dry.
![](https://cornwallseatostars.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/14-Paleogene-50_million_ya-1024x950.jpg)
Timeline
201.3 – 145.0 million years ago
(56.3 million years)
![](https://cornwallseatostars.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/14-Stopwatch-Paleogene-1024x843.png)
![](https://cornwallseatostars.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/solow_motion.png)
Where have you reached on the trail?
![](https://cornwallseatostars.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/15-Neogene_Trail.png)