NeogeneCenozoic

NeogeneCenozoic is an informal way to refer to the Neogene portion of the Cenozoic Era, the geological interval that follows the Paleogene and precedes the Quaternary. In the officially used timescale, the Cenozoic spans about 66 million years, and the Neogene covers roughly 23.03 to 2.58 million years ago. The Neogene comprises two epochs: the Miocene (about 23.03–5.33 Ma) and the Pliocene (about 5.33–2.58 Ma).

The Neogene is characterized by a long-term trend toward cooler, drier global climates, culminating in substantial Northern Hemisphere glaciations during the late Miocene and Pliocene. Global temperatures fell from earlier tropical conditions, and sea levels fluctuated with climatic cycles. Tectonically, continued collision between the Indian subcontinent and Asia contributed to the uplift of the Himalayas and related mountain belts, while the closure of parts of the Tethys Sea reshaped ocean basins and currents.

Biologically, the Neogene saw major diversification and turnover among mammals and plants. Grasses spread widely, supporting the evolution of modern grazing ecosystems and herbivores such as early bovids and equids. Many modern mammal families became common, and complex ecosystems took shape in various continents. The late Miocene and early Pliocene record the appearance of early hominins in Africa, with more derived hominins emerging in the late Neogene, setting the stage for later developments in the Quaternary.

In sum, the Neogene within the Cenozoic marks a period of climatic cooling, tectonic reorganization, and significant evolutionary change that prepared many modern biotas for the cooler, more heterogeneous environments of the subsequent Quaternary.