Cenozoic

Episode 141: Bolca Fish
Published on July 15th, 2022 | by David Marshall
We paint a detailed picture of the palaeoecology of 50 million year old fish with Dr Valentina Rossi... Read More →
The Paleogene period is a division of earth’s history spanning from around 66 to 23 million years ago, and during which life recovered following the end Cretaceous mass extinction. The Paleogene was a warm stable period with temperatures on average 4°C above present. However, around 55 million years ago, the planet experienced a short but severe warming phase. During the Paleogene, the continents continued to disperse. The Indian and Atlantic oceans widened while the Tethys Ocean gradually closed as Africa collided with Europe and India collided with Asia leading to Alpine and Himalayan mountain building. Drake’s passage opened between South America and Antarctica leading to cooling of the southern continent. On land and in the oceans, mammals became increasingly diverse and abundant. Most of the major mammal groups, from primates to whales, first appeared within the Paleogene. Birds also continued to diversify. One of the most successful plant groups; the grasses, also evolved during this time. By the end of the period, the Antarctic ice sheet had begun to form accompanied by global cooling and sea level fall.
Published on July 15th, 2022 | by David Marshall
We paint a detailed picture of the palaeoecology of 50 million year old fish with Dr Valentina Rossi... Read More →
Published on April 20th, 2022 | by David Marshall
We hang out with the sloths of Hispaniola, looking for new species hiding within Dr Robert McAfee's measurements... Read More →
Published on February 25th, 2022 | by David Marshall
We look at the timing of the K-Pg mass extinction with Melanie During... Read More →
Published on October 30th, 2021 | by David Marshall
We examine the fossil record of bats in this nominally Halloween-themed episode... Read More →
Published on October 1st, 2021 | by David Marshall
We're introduced to Kairuku waewaeroa, a new giant penguin from New Zealand... Read More →
Published on April 15th, 2021 | by David Marshall
We look at rates of evolutionary innovation in crocodiles through time with Dr Tom Stubbs... Read More →
Published on June 29th, 2020 | by Liz Martin-Silverstone
Was it the asteroid impact or volcanism that killed the dinosaurs... Read More →
Published on September 15th, 2019 | by Liz Martin-Silverstone
Terror birds, or phorusrhacids as they are known scientifically, are a group of large, flightless birds that lived during the Cenozoic, and truly lived up to their name. Known for their large, powerful skulls, and enormous [&hellip... Read More →
Published on August 1st, 2016 | by Laura Soul
The Bighorn Basin in Wyoming has been an important area for research into terrestrial ecosystems for decades. The basin formed as part of the uprising of the Rocky Mountains in the west of North America, and [&hellip... Read More →
Published on April 13th, 2016 | by Liz Martin-Silverstone
Echolocation is an amazing ability that some mammals have evolved. Using sonar frequencies, dolphins and other toothed whales can communicate with each other and hunt prey, making the unique amongst marine mammals at being able to [&hellip... Read More →