Ava Goforth - Eocene

EOCENE - Epoch

Major Events

General

* The Eocene epoch lasted about 22 million years, and was part of the tertiary period in the cenozoic era.

• The continents moved into their modern day positions. This changed global heat transport and oceanic circulation.
• Mammals evolved into version closer to their modern day equivalents. Hoofed animals appeared, and other animals like whales and bats evolved into their modern day versions.

Climate

• Had the highest mean annual temperatures for the Cenozoic. Earth was warm and rainy, with barely any ice caps.
• The first fossils of whales/dolphins were found in this epoch. Fligthless birds also lived in this time.

Video Review

• The warmest temperatures in the past 65 million years was during this time period*
• There is paleontological data that suggests that anthropods (like crabs) originated from the Eocene epoch. **
• Australia and Antartica were still joined at the beginning of the Eocene.
• Giants penguins weighing about 100-200 lbs existed during this time.
• oxygen levels were higher during this period, so some animals like insects were very large.
• Fossils from this time suggest antartica was covered in forests with a temperate climate.

References

*- Pross, J., Contreras, L., Bijl, P. K., Greenwood, D. R., Bohaty, S. M., & Schouten, S. (2012, August 2). Persistent near-tropical warmth on the Antarctic continent during the early Eocene epoch. Nature, 488(7409). Nature Publishing Group.**Jaeger, J. J., Beard, K. C., Chaimanee, Y., Salem, M., Benammi, M., & Hlal, O. (2010, October 28). Late middle Eocene epoch of Libya yields earliest known radiation of African anthropoids. Nature, 467(7319), published by Nature Publishing Group.

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