In geologic time , the Cenozoic Era, the third era in the Phanerozoic Eon , follows the Mesozoic Era and spans the time between roughly 65 million years ago (mya) and present day. On the geologic time scale, Earth is currently in the Cenozoic Era of the Phanerozoic Eon.
The Cenozoic Era contains two geologic time periods, including the Tertiary Period (65 mya to approximately 1.8 mya) and the current Quaternary Period (1.8 mya to present day). The Tertiary Period is also sometimes referred to in terms of a Paleogene Period and a Neogene Period. When referred to in terms of a Paleogene Period and a Neogene Period, the Paleogene Period extends from approximately 65 mya to 23 mya and the Neogene Period from 23 mya to 2.6 mya. The Quaternary Period is also termed the Anthropogene Period. These periods are further subdivided into six different major epochs, including the Paleocene Epoch , Oligocene Epoch , Miocene Epoch , and Pliocene Epoch , Pleistocene Epoch and current Holocene Epoch .
The onset of the Cenozoic Era is marked by the K-T boundary or K-T event—the mass extinction of non-avian dinosaurs marking the boundary between the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era and the Tertiary Period of the Cenozoic Era.
At the start of the Cenozoic Era, North America and Europe were separated by a widening ocean basin spreading along a prominent mid-oceanic ridge. North America and South America were separated by a confluence of the future Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, and extensive flooding submerged much of what are now the eastern and middle portions of the United States. By start of the Cenozoic Era, water separated South America from Africa , and seafloor spreading continued to push the continents apart. The Australian and Antarctic continents were clearly articulated and the Antarctic continent had begun a southward migration toward its present position in the south polar region. At the outset of the Cenozoic Era, the Indian plate and subcontinent remained far south of the Eurasian plate and continent.
By 30 mya, the modern continental arrangement was easily recognizable. Although still separated by water, the land bridge between North and South America began to reemerge. Antarctica assumed a polar position and extensive ice accumulation began on the continent. The Indian plate drove rapidly northward of the equator to close with the Eurasian plate. Although still separated by a shallow straight of water, the impending collision of the plates that would eventually form the Himalayan mountain chain had begun. The gap between North America and Europe continued to widen at a site of sea-floor spreading along a prominent mid-Atlantic ridge. By mid-Tertiary Period, the mid-Atlantic ridge was apparent in a large suture-like extension into the rapidly widening South Atlantic Ocean that separated South America from Africa.
Well into the Cenozoic Era, by the start of the Quaternary Period some 2.6 million years ago, Earth's continents assumed their modern configuration. The Pacific Ocean separated Asia and Australia from North America and South America, the Atlantic Ocean separated North and South America from Europe (Euro-Asia) and Africa. Separated by the straits of Indonesia, the Indian Ocean filled the basin between Africa, India, Asia, and Australia. The Indian plate driving against and under the Eurasian plate uplifted rapid mountain building. As a result of the collision, ancient oceanic crust bearing marine fossils was uplifted into the Himalayan chain. The collision between the Indian and Eurasian plate continues with a resulting slow—but measurable—increase in the altitude of the highest Himalayan Mountains (e.g., Mt. Everest) each year. Although glacial sheets advance and recede in cyclic patterns (i.e., reestablish new terrain altering ice ages, the basic patterns of glaciation evident today were established during the Quaternary Period.
Many geologists and paleontologists assert that the K-T extinction resulted from a cataclysmic asteroid impact in an area now located underwater near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The impact caused widespread primary damage due to the blast impact and firestorms. The major damage to Earth's ecosystem occurred when the debris and smoke from the collision and subsequent fires moved into the atmosphere to block a sufficient amount of light from the Sun that photosynthesis was greatly slowed. The resulting climatic changes and food shortages led to extinction of the largest life forms (those with the greatest energy needs), including the dinosaurs.
Although mammals evolved before the Cenozoic Era, the reduction in predator species allowed land mammals to dominate and thrive—eventually setting the stage from the evolution of homo sapiens (humans).
"Cenozoic Era." World of Earth Science. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Cenozoic era (sēnəzō´Ĭk, sĕn–), last major division of geologic time (see Geologic Timescale, table) lasting from 65 million years ago to the present. The Cenozoic is divided into the Tertiary (from 65 million years ago until 2 million years ago) and Quaternary (2 million years ago to the present) periods. Early in the Cenozoic, Greenland began to separate from Europe; Antarctica and Australia, and Africa and India also separated. The great Alpine-Himalayan mountain systems were formed; rifting with associated volcanic activity occurred in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Antarctica. In the late Cenozoic, the Cascade Range of volcanoes extended from southern British Columbia to N California, and represented a new volcanic arc superimposed on older structures. The volcanic arc is still periodically active today. Following the disturbances of the late Mesozoic era, the geography of North America had by the beginning of the Cenozoic attained substantially its present form. The only areas subjected to inundation by shallow marine waters were the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and a small area on the Pactific coast. Most of today's common plants and insects can be recognized in early Cenozoic fossils. Modern grasses appeared in the mid-Cenozoic. The animal life of the Cenozoic was dominated by mammals, which developed rapidly and were most numerous in the Tertiary period and then declined, with the exception of a few specialized types, in the Quaternary period. Theories explaining the decline or extinction of mammals during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs of the quaternary have ranged from a change in climate to the predation of humans. Cenozoic land mammals were never as large as the Mesozoic dinosaurs, but many were larger than today's mammals, and included beavers that grew to lengths of more than 7 ft (2 m), sloths as large as elephants, and birds up to 7 ft (2 m) in height. Early humans are thought to have evolved in Africa during the Pliocene and were widespread and accomplished toolmakers by the beginning of the Pleistocene. Around 1.6 million years ago, Homo erectus, a robust ancestor of modern humans, evolved (see human evolution). H. sapiens evolved more than a million years later in Africa and moved to Asia and Europe, supplanting earlier Homo species by 28,000 years ago, developed a form of agriculture in the Middle East c.10,000 years ago, and started writing and building the first cities c.4,000 years ago. See also geology.
"Cenozoic era." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Cenozoic (Cainozoic; Kainozoic) The geological era that began about 65 million years ago and extends to the present. It followed the Mesozoic era and is subdivided into the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. The Cenozoic is often known as the Age of Mammals as these animals evolved to become an abundant, diverse, and dominant group. Birds and flowering plants also flourished. The era saw the formation of the major mountain ranges of the Himalayas and the Alps.
"Cenozoic." A Dictionary of Biology. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Cenozoic (Cainozoic, Coenozoic, Kainozoic) An era of geological time that began about 65 Ma ago and continues to the present. It includes the Tertiary and Quaternary Sub-Eras (alternatively, the Palaeogene and Neogene Periods). Molluscs and microfossils are used in the stratigraphic subdivision of the era. The Alpine orogeny (mountain-building episode) reached its climax during this period of geological time.
"Cenozoic." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Cenozoic(Cainozoic, Coenozoic, Kainozoic) An era of geological time that began about 65 Ma ago and continues to the present. It includes the Tertiary and Quaternary Sub-Eras (alternatively the Palaeogene and Neogene Periods). Molluscs and microfossils are used in the stratigraphic subdivision of the era. The Alpine orogeny (mountain-building episode) reached its climax during this period of geological time.
"Cenozoic." A Dictionary of Ecology. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Ce·no·zo·ic / ˌsenəˈzōik/ (also Cai·no·zo·ic / ˌkīnə-/ ) • adj. Geol. relating to or denoting the most recent era, following the Mesozoic era and comprising the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. ∎ [as n.] (the Cenozoic) the Cenozoic era, or the system of rocks deposited during it.
"Cenozoic." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Cenozoic (Cainozoic, Kainozoic) An era of geological time that began about 65 Ma ago and that continues to the present. It includes the Palaeogene and Neogene Periods (formerly the Tertiary and Quaternary Sub-Eras). Molluscs and microfossils are used in the stratigraphic subdivision of the era. The Alpine orogeny (mountain-building episode) reached its climax during this period of geological time.
"Cenozoic." A Dictionary of Zoology. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Cenozoic (Cainozoic, Kainozoic) Era of geologic time extending from about 65 million years ago to the present. It includes the Tertiary and Quaternary Periods: the so-called ages of mammals and man. Molluscs and microfossils are used in the stratigraphic subdivision of the era. The Alpine—Himalayan orogeny reached its climax during this period of geologic time.
"Cenozoic." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Cenozoic Most recent era of geological time, beginning about 65 million years ago and extending up to the present. It is subdivided into the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. It is the period during which the modern world, with its present geographical features and plants and animals, developed.
"Cenozoic." World Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. 8 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.