Neogene

The Neogene (/ˈniː.ədʒiːn/ NEE-ə-jeen,[6][7]) is a

Neogene
geologic period and system that spans 20.45
million years from the end of the Paleogene Period
23.03 million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of
the present Quaternary Period 2.58 million years
ago. The Neogene is sub-divided into two epochs,
the earlier Miocene and the later Pliocene. Some
geologists assert that the Neogene cannot be
A map of the world as it appeared during the
clearly delineated from the modern geological
Miocene Epoch, c. 15 Ma
period, the Quaternary.[8] The term "Neogene"
was coined in 1853 by the Austrian Chronology

palaeontologist Moritz Hörnes (1815–1868).[9]

−2 — Quaternary
The earlier term Tertiary Period was used to define
–
the span of time now covered by Paleogene and P Piacenzian
−4 — l
i
Neogene and, despite no longer being recognized –
o. Zanclean
as a formal stratigraphic term, "Tertiary" still −6 — ← Messinian salinity crisis [1]
Messinian
sometimes remains in informal use.[10] – ← North American prairie
expands [2]
−8 —
During this period, mammals and birds continued –
Tortonian
to evolve into modern forms, while other groups of −10 — C
N
life remained relatively unchanged. The first –e e
n
humans (Homo habilis) appeared in Africa near −12 — o M
o
the end of the period.[11] Some continental – z g i Serravallian
o
movements took place, the most significant event −14 — o e c
n
–i e Langhian
being the connection of North and South America en
−16 — c
at the Isthmus of Panama, late in the Pliocene. This e
–
cut off the warm ocean currents from the Pacific to
−18 — Burdigalian
the Atlantic Ocean, leaving only the Gulf Stream –
to transfer heat to the Arctic Ocean. The global −20 —
climate cooled considerably throughout the –
Neogene, culminating in a series of continental −22 — Aquitanian
glaciations in the Quaternary Period that follows. –
−24 —
Paleogene

Divisions Subdivision of the Neogene according to

the ICS, as of 2021.[3]
In ICS terminology, from upper (later, more recent)
Vertical axis: millions of years ago.
to lower (earlier):
Etymology
The Pliocene Epoch is subdivided into two ages: Name formality Formal

Piacenzian Age, preceded by Usage information

Zanclean Age Celestial body Earth

The Miocene Epoch is subdivided into six ages: Regional usage Global (ICS)
 Messinian Age, preceded by Time scale(s) used ICS Time Scale
Tortonian Age Definition
Serravallian Age
Chronological unit Period
Langhian Age
Stratigraphic unit System
Burdigalian Age
Aquitanian Age Time span formality Formal

In different geophysical regions of the world, other Lower boundary

Base of magnetic
regional names are also used for the same or definition
polarity chronozone
overlapping ages and other timeline subdivisions. C6Cn.2n

The terms Neogene System (formal) and Upper FAD of the Planktonic
Tertiary System (informal) describe the rocks foraminiferan
deposited during the Neogene Period. Paragloborotalia kugleri
Lower boundary Lemme-Carrosio Section,
Geography GSSP Carrosio, Italy
44.6589°N 8.8364°E
The continents in the Neogene were very close to
Lower GSSP ratified 1996[4]
their current positions. The Isthmus of Panama
Upper boundary
formed, connecting North and South America. The Base of magnetic
definition
Indian subcontinent continued to collide with Asia, polarity chronozone C2r
forming the Himalayas. Sea levels fell, creating (Matuyama).
land bridges between Africa and Eurasia and Extinction of the
between Eurasia and North America. Haptophytes Discoaster
pentaradiatus and
Climate Discoaster surculus

The global climate became more seasonal and Upper boundary Monte San Nicola Section,
continued an overall drying and cooling trend GSSP Gela, Sicily, Italy
which began during the Paleogene. The Early 37.1469°N 14.2035°E
Miocene was relatively cool;[12] Early Miocene Upper GSSP ratified 2009 (as base of
mid-latitude seawater and continental thermal Quaternary and
gradients were already very similar to those of the Pleistocene)[5]
present.[13] During the Middle Miocene, Earth Atmospheric and climatic data
entered a warm phase known as the Middle
Mean atmospheric c. 21.5 vol %
Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO),[12] which
O2 content (108 % of modern)
was driven by the emplacement of the Columbia
River Basalt Group.[14] Around 11 Ma, the Middle Mean atmospheric c. 280 ppm

Miocene Warm Interval gave way to the much CO2 content (1 times pre-industrial)

cooler Late Miocene.[12] The ice caps on both Mean surface c. 14 °C

poles began to grow and thicken, a process temperature (0 °C above modern)
enhanced by positive feedbacks from increased
formation of sea ice.[15] Between 7 and 5.3 Ma, a decrease in global temperatures termed the Late Miocene
Cooling (LMC) ensued, driven by decreases in carbon dioxide concentrations.[16] During the Pliocene,
from about 5.3 to 2.7 Ma, another warm interval occurred, being known as the Pliocene Warm Interval
(PWI), interrupting the longer-term cooling trend. The Pliocene Thermal Maximum (PTM) occurred
between 3.3 and 3.0 Ma.[12] During the Pliocene, Green Sahara phases of wet conditions in North Africa
were frequent and occurred about every 21 kyr, being especially intense when Earth's orbit's eccentricity
was high.[17] The PWI had similar levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide to contemporary times and is often
seen as an analogous climate to the projected climate of the near future as a result of anthropogenic global
warming.[18] Towards the end of the Pliocene, decreased heat transport towards the Antarctic resulting from
a weakening of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) cooled the Earth, a process that exacerbated itself in a
positive feedback as sea levels dropped and the ITF diminished and further limited the heat transported
southward by the Leeuwin Current.[19] By the end of the period the first of a series of glaciations of the
current Ice Age began.[20]

Flora and fauna

Marine and continental flora and fauna have a modern appearance. The reptile group Choristodera went
extinct in the early part of the period, while the amphibians known as Allocaudata disappeared at the end of
it. Neogene also marked the end of the reptilian genera Langstonia and Barinasuchus, terrestrial predators
that were the last surviving members of Sebecosuchia, a group related to crocodiles. The oceans were
dominated by large carnivores like megalodons and livyatans, and 19 million years ago about 70% of all
pelagic shark species disappeared.[21] Mammals and birds continued to be the dominant terrestrial
vertebrates, and took many forms as they adapted to various habitats. The first hominins, the ancestors of
humans may have appeared in southern Europe and migrated into Africa.[22][23] The first humans
(belonging to the species Homo habilis) appeared in Africa near the end of the period.[11]

About 20 million years ago gymnosperms in the form of some conifer and cycad groups started to diversify
and produce more species due to the changing conditions.[24] In response to the cooler, seasonal climate,
tropical plant species gave way to deciduous ones and grasslands replaced many forests. Grasses therefore
greatly diversified, and herbivorous mammals evolved alongside it, creating the many grazing animals of
today such as horses, antelope, and bison. Ice age mammals like the mammoths and woolly rhinoceros were
common in Pliocene. With lower levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, C4 plants expanded and reached
ecological dominance in grasslands during the last 10 million years. Also Asteraceae (daisies) went through
a significant adaptive radiation.[25] Eucalyptus fossil leaves occur in the Miocene of New Zealand, where
the genus is not native today, but have been introduced from Australia.[26]

Disagreements
The Neogene traditionally ended at the end of the Pliocene Epoch, just before the older definition of the
beginning of the Quaternary Period; many time scales show this division.

However, there was a movement amongst geologists (particularly marine geologists) to also include
ongoing geological time (Quaternary) in the Neogene, while others (particularly terrestrial geologists) insist
the Quaternary to be a separate period of distinctly different record. The somewhat confusing terminology
and disagreement amongst geologists on where to draw what hierarchical boundaries is due to the
comparatively fine divisibility of time units as time approaches the present, and due to geological
preservation that causes the youngest sedimentary geological record to be preserved over a much larger area
and to reflect many more environments than the older geological record.[8] By dividing the Cenozoic Era
into three (arguably two) periods (Paleogene, Neogene, Quaternary) instead of seven epochs, the periods
are more closely comparable to the duration of periods in the Mesozoic and Paleozoic Eras.
The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) once proposed that the Quaternary be considered a
sub-era (sub-erathem) of the Neogene, with a beginning date of 2.58 Ma, namely the start of the Gelasian
Stage. In the 2004 proposal of the ICS, the Neogene would have consisted of the Miocene and Pliocene
Epochs.[27] The International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) counterproposed that the Neogene
and the Pliocene end at 2.58 Ma, that the Gelasian be transferred to the Pleistocene, and the Quaternary be
recognized as the third period in the Cenozoic, citing key changes in Earth's climate, oceans, and biota that
occurred 2.58 Ma and its correspondence to the Gauss-Matuyama magnetostratigraphic boundary.[28][29] In
2006 ICS and INQUA reached a compromise that made Quaternary a sub-era, subdividing Cenozoic into
the old classical Tertiary and Quaternary, a compromise that was rejected by International Union of
Geological Sciences because it split both Neogene and Pliocene in two.[30]

Following formal discussions at the 2008 International Geological Congress in Oslo, Norway,[31] the ICS
decided in May 2009 to make the Quaternary the youngest period of the Cenozoic Era with its base at 2.58
Mya and including the Gelasian Age, which was formerly considered part of the Neogene Period and
Pliocene Epoch.[32] Thus the Neogene Period ends bounding the succeeding Quaternary Period at 2.58
Mya.

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External links
"Digital Atlas of Neogene Life for the Southeastern United States" ([Link]
eb/20130423191403/[Link] San Jose
State University. Archived from the original ([Link]
[Link]) on 2013-04-23. Retrieved 21 September 2018.

Retrieved from "[Link]