plio

Plio is a term that can refer to several different concepts, primarily in geology and biology. In geology, the Pliocene epoch is a geological epoch that lasted from 5.333 to 2.58 million years ago. It is the second epoch of the Neogene Period. This epoch is characterized by significant climatic changes, including a cooling trend that led to the expansion of ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere. Many modern animal species evolved during the Pliocene, and early hominins, such as Australopithecus, were present.

In biology, "plio-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word pleion, meaning "more." It is often used in scientific terminology to indicate something is more or larger, or to refer to a greater quantity or degree. For example, plioarthritis refers to a condition of more than one joint being affected by arthritis. Similarly, pliophenomena describe events that are more frequent or pronounced.

The term plioanthropus, though not a widely recognized genus, has been used in some historical contexts to refer to early human ancestors, aligning with the "more" or "advanced" meaning of the prefix in relation to earlier forms. It is important to distinguish between these different uses of "plio," as they originate from distinct fields of study and have specific meanings within their respective contexts. The Pliocene epoch is a well-defined period in Earth's history, while the biological prefix "plio-" is a versatile descriptor used across various scientific disciplines.