Miocène

The Miocene is an epoch of the geologic timescale that spans from 23.03 to 5.333 million years ago. It is the first epoch of the Neogene Period. The Miocene was a time of significant global change, particularly in terms of climate and the evolution of life.

The early Miocene saw a warming trend, leading to the expansion of forests across the continents. This period was characterized by a diversity of mammalian life, with the emergence and diversification of many modern groups, including horses, rhinos, and early elephants. In the oceans, marine mammals such as whales and seals continued to evolve and diversify.

Mid-Miocene climates were generally warmer and wetter than today, with substantial ice sheets present only in Antarctica. This warm period facilitated the spread of tropical and subtropical flora and fauna into higher latitudes. The continents were also undergoing significant geological changes, with mountain-building events occurring in various parts of the world.

Towards the later Miocene, a cooling trend began, which would eventually lead to the ice ages of the Pliocene and Pleistocene. This cooling led to the retreat of forests and the expansion of grasslands in many regions, which in turn influenced the evolution of grazing mammals. The primate lineage also saw significant developments, with the divergence of the ape lineages from the Old World monkeys. The Miocene ended with a significant global cooling event and a drop in sea level.