midlatiden

Midlatiden refers to a period in Earth's history, specifically the middle part of the Miocene epoch. This epoch spanned from approximately 23 to 5.3 million years ago. The mid-Miocene is generally considered to be the interval between about 16 and 11 million years ago. During this time, global climate was generally warmer than today, though it began a gradual cooling trend that would continue through the rest of the Miocene and into the Pliocene.

This period saw significant evolutionary developments in mammals. The diversification of grasslands and savannas across continents like North America and Eurasia accelerated, leading to the evolution and spread of grazing herbivores such as horses and rhinoceroses. The early stages of ape evolution were also prominent during the mid-Miocene, with fossil evidence suggesting a radiation of various ape lineages in Africa and Eurasia. Marine ecosystems were also dynamic, with the continued presence of diverse cetaceans and the establishment of many modern fish families. Geologically, continental drift continued to shape landscapes, and mountain-building processes were active in various regions. The mid-Miocene represents a crucial phase in the transition from the warmer, more tropical conditions of the early Cenozoic to the cooler, more ice-dominated climates of the later epochs.