OLIGOCENE EPOCH Meaning and
Definition
-
The Oligocene Epoch is a geological period that occurred approximately 34 to 23 million years ago, during the Paleogene Period of the Cenozoic Era. It follows the Eocene Epoch and precedes the Miocene Epoch. The term Oligocene originates from the Greek words "oligos" meaning "few" and "kainos" meaning "new", reflecting the decrease in diversity of marine species that occurred during this period.
During the Oligocene Epoch, the Earth went through significant climatic changes, transitioning from a greenhouse to a cooler and drier environment. It was a time of global cooling, leading to the expansion of polar ice caps and the development of large grasslands. This period is often referred to as the "Age of Cenozoic Parklands" due to the spread of grasslands around the world, which had profound effects on the evolution of mammals.
The Oligocene saw the diversification and evolution of many mammalian groups, including the emergence of early primates and expansion of the great ape and monkey ancestors. Noteworthy mammals from this epoch include large herbivores like the brontotheres, entelodonts, and the famous hornless rhinoceros Indricotherium.
This epoch is also marked by various marine developments such as the expansion of coral reefs, the increase in diversity of marine invertebrates like gastropods and bivalves, and the appearance of early cetaceans (whales and dolphins). The Oligocene Epoch is crucial for understanding the evolutionary history, climate, and environmental changes that occurred during this time and has significant implications for reconstructing the Earth's ancient ecosystems and the connections between past climate variability and biodiversity.
Common Misspellings for OLIGOCENE EPOCH
- iligocene epoch
- kligocene epoch
- lligocene epoch
- pligocene epoch
- 0ligocene epoch
- 9ligocene epoch
- okigocene epoch
- opigocene epoch
- ooigocene epoch
- olugocene epoch
- oljgocene epoch
- olkgocene epoch
- ologocene epoch
- ol9gocene epoch
- ol8gocene epoch
- olifocene epoch
- olivocene epoch
- olibocene epoch
- olihocene epoch
Etymology of OLIGOCENE EPOCH
The word "Oligocene" derives from the combination of two Greek words: "oligos", meaning "few" or "small", and "kainos", meaning "new". The term "Oligocene" was coined by the Swiss paleontologist Heinrich Ernst Beyrich in 1854 to describe a geologic epoch characterized by a relatively small number of new or recently evolved species. The Oligocene Epoch is a division of the geologic timescale that spans from approximately 33.9 million to 23 million years ago.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
