Pliocene epoch

E5179

The Pliocene epoch was a geological time period roughly 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago marked by cooler global climates, the expansion of grasslands, and significant evolutionary developments among mammals and early hominins.

All labels observed (8)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf chronostratigraphic unit
geological epoch
associatedWith evolution of Australopithecus in Africa
spread of savanna habitats in Africa
atmosphericCO2Level higher than pre-industrial Holocene levels
biogeographicEvent Great American Biotic Interchange between North and South America
boundaryDefinedBy base of marine isotope stage 103 at lower boundary
first appearance of the planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia margaritae at base
chronologyStandardizedBy International Commission on Stratigraphy
climateCharacteristic generally warmer than present day early in epoch
increasing high-latitude glaciation toward end
overall global cooling trend
contains Piacenzian age
linked to: Pliocene epoch

Zanclean age
linked to: Pliocene epoch
duration about 2.75 million years
endTime about 2.58 million years ago
faunalCharacteristic diversification of grazing mammals
modern-type mammal faunas becoming established
significant evolution of early hominins
followedBy Pleistocene epoch
follows Miocene epoch
geologicTimeScaleRank epoch
glaciationCharacteristic expansion of Antarctic ice sheet
onset of significant Northern Hemisphere ice sheets near end
marineLifeCharacteristic diversification of marine mammals such as seals and whales
modern-style marine ecosystems largely established
namedBy Charles Lyell
nameMeaning more recent (from Greek pleion and kainos)
paleoclimateSignificance used as partial analog for future warm climates with higher CO2
paleogeographyCharacteristic continued closure of Central American Seaway
near-complete formation of Isthmus of Panama
strengthening of Gulf Stream circulation
partOf Neogene period
linked to: Cenozoic
positionInTimeScale second and last epoch of the Neogene period
precedes Quaternary period
seaLevelCharacteristic falling sea levels toward end of epoch
higher global sea levels than today in early Pliocene
startTime about 5.333 million years ago
subdivisionOf Cenozoic era
linked to: Cenozoic

Phanerozoic eon
linked to: Phanerozoic Eon
tectonicActivityCharacteristic continued uplift of the Andes
continued uplift of the East African Rift system
continued uplift of the Himalayas
upperBoundaryDefinedBy base of marine isotope stage 103 of Pleistocene (Gelasian) in modern timescale alignment
onset of widespread Northern Hemisphere glaciation
vegetationCharacteristic contraction of tropical forests in many regions
expansion of grasslands

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (22)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Isthmus of Panama formedDuring Pliocene epoch
Pliocene epoch contains Zanclean age
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Pliocene epoch contains Piacenzian age
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Cenozoic contains Pliocene Epoch
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Cradle of Humankind geologicalAge Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Neogene contains Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Neogene subdividedInto Early Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Neogene subdividedInto Late Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
High Cascades geologicPeriodOfMajorActivity Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Walking with Beasts setInPeriod Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Australopithecus africanus livedDuring Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Kauaʻi shield volcano hasAge Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Black Mesa geologicalAge Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Belridge Oil Field geologicAge Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Kern River Oil Field geologicAge Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Gauss–Matuyama geomagnetic reversal marksBoundaryBetween Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Gauss–Matuyama geomagnetic reversal usedToDefine Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary
linked to: Pliocene epoch
GABI tookPlaceDuring Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Miocene precedes Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Monts Dore volcanic field geologicalAge Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch
Lothagam hasGeologicalAge Pliocene
linked to: Pliocene epoch