Pliocene Epoch: Cooler Climes and Human Ancestors Emerge
Summary
The Pliocene Epoch, spanning from 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago, witnessed cooler and drier climates, the emergence of early human ancestors like australopithecines, and major evolutionary changes in mammals like mastodons, camels, and horses in North America.
Key Points
- The Pliocene Epoch spanned from about 5.3 million to 2.6 million years ago, preceding the Pleistocene Epoch.
- Pliocene environments were generally cooler and drier than previous epochs, with the appearance of early human ancestors like australopithecines.
- Major evolutionary changes occurred in many mammal groups during the Pliocene, including the diversification of mastodons and the appearance of camels and horses in North America.