🪵Vertebrates
🪵Agnatha
Cyclostomata
🪵 Chondrichthyes
🪵Reptila
🪵Chelonia
🪵Squama
🪵Crocodila
🪵Aves
🪵Mammalia
👣 Homo ergaster 1.9-?0.9 MYA (S)
👣 Homo erectus 1.9-?0.4 MYA (S)
🧑🧒🧒 human population reaches 150,000 souls around 70,000 BC
🪵Metatharia
🪵Eutheria
🪵 Osteichthyes
🪵 Amphibia
The start of the Cenozoic Period, spanning from approximately 70 million years ago to the present, is known as the “Age of Mammals” due to the dominance of mammals after the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. This era is characterized by significant geological, climatic, and evolutionary changes. It is divided into three epochs: the Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary. During the Paleogene, mammals rapidly diversified and adapted to various habitats, while the Neogene saw the evolution of many modern families of animals, including early humans. The Quaternary epoch is marked by the onset of the Ice Ages, which influenced species distribution and led to the emergence of Homo sapiens. The Cenozoic continues to shape our planet’s flora and fauna, highlighting the intricate interplay between geological processes and biological evolution.