The Paleocene it is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 million years ago to about 56 million years ago. It is the first epoch within the Paleogene period, within the Cenozoic Era.
This time is located after the famous process of mass extinction of the dinosaurs, so in the beginning the conditions of the planet were a bit hostile. However, little by little they stabilized, until turning the planet into the perfect place for the establishment and survival of numerous plants and animals..
Article index
This epoch lasted 10 million years, beginning about 66 million years ago and ending about 56 million years ago..
In the Paleocene epoch, the planet was quite active from a geological point of view. The tectonic plates continued their movement and the separation of Pangea continued, with the continents shifting towards their present location..
During the Paleocene the groups of animals that survived the extinction of the previous period managed to adapt to the environmental conditions that remained and diversify, managing to occupy large tracts of land..
The Paleocene epoch was marked by intense activity regarding plate tectonics. This activity began in the previous period (Cretaceous).
During this time the Laramide Orogeny continued, a very important process from the point of view of geology, since it resulted in the formation of several mountain ranges in North America and Mexico, the most recognized being the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre Oriental.
In the Paleocene the separation of the supercontinent Pangea continued.
Gondwana, once the largest supercontinent (with the exception of Pangea of course), continued to split up. The continents that were part of this great land mass were Africa, South America, Australia and Antarctica.
These four pieces of land disintegrated and began to move due to continental drift in different directions. For example, Antarctica moved towards the south pole of the planet, where it would end up completely covered with ice.
Africa moved northward, even later colliding with Eurasia. Australia moved a little towards the northeast, although always staying in the southern hemisphere of the planet.
Likewise, the fragment that corresponded to what is now South America moved northwest, until it was very close to North America. However, they were not united, but between them was a piece of water known as continental seas. Both continents would be united in the following period (Neogene), specifically during the Pliocene epoch, with the emergence of the isthmus of Panama..
Similarly, between the eastern end of Asia and the western end of North America, the appearance of a land bridge that kept both continents connected for thousands of years became evident. Today that space is occupied by a part of the Pacific Ocean; the bering sea.
Also, the extreme west of Eurasia was joined with another large piece of land; the one that today corresponds to Greenland. During this time the rupture of this supercontinent began, so Greenland began to move slowly towards the north, where, like Antarctica, it would end up covered with ice in a large percentage of its surface.
During this time there were several of the oceans that exist today, among which are:
In the early days of this time, the planet's climate was quite cold and arid. However, as time progressed, it became humid and warm..
Also, at this time an event occurred that caused temperatures to increase by a small percentage; it was known as "Paleocene - Eocene Thermal Maximum".
It was a climatic phenomenon during which the planet's temperatures rose an average of 6 ° C.
According to the records and information gathered by specialists, at the poles the temperature also increased, even finding, in the Arctic Ocean, fossils of organisms that were typical of tropical waters..
This phenomenon also resulted in an increase in the average temperature of water bodies, consequently affecting various organisms..
There were other groups of living beings that were positively affected by this phenomenon. The most significant example is that of mammals.
Specialists have proposed various causes for this event, among the most accepted being the intense volcanic activity, the abrupt impact of a comet on the earth's surface, or the release of large amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere..
At the end of the Paleocene, the climate became hot and humid, even in places that have traditionally had low temperatures, such as the poles and Greenland..
The Paleocene period began immediately after the most studied and recognized mass extinction process in history; the mass extinction of the Cretaceous - Tertiary, in which a large number of species became extinct, especially the dinosaurs.
This mass extinction allowed the surviving species to prosper and diversify, even becoming the new dominant species on the planet..
During this period many of the plants that still persist today originated, such as palm trees, conifers and cacti. According to the fossil records collected by specialists, there were places where there was an abundance of ferns.
The climate that prevailed during this period was quite hot and humid, which favored that large areas of land were covered with leafy and green plants, originating what would be known as the first jungles and forests..
Also, conifers dominated those environments in which temperatures were lower than average, especially regions near the poles. Other plants that continued their diversification in this period were the angiosperms, many of which have remained until today.
Once the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous was over, the animals that survived had the opportunity to diversify and spread across the Earth. Especially now that the dinosaurs were gone, which were predators of many animals and competed for environmental resources..
Among the groups of animals that expanded and developed during the Paleocene, we can mention mammals, birds, reptiles and fish..
The reptiles that managed to survive the extinction period were favored by the climatic conditions that prevailed in this period. These environmental conditions allowed them to expand over wider tracts of land..
Among the reptiles, campsosaurs, typical of aquatic habitats, predominated. They had a body similar to that of large lizards, with a long tail and four small limbs. They could measure up to 2 meters. Their teeth were able to capture and retain their prey.
There were also snakes and turtles.
During this period the birds of the genus Gastornis, also called "birds of terror", which were large and did not have the ability to fly. Its main feature was its large beak, with a very strong build. They had carnivorous habits, being known predators of many animals.
Similarly, during this period many of the bird species that still persist today emerged, such as gulls, owls, ducks and pigeons, among others..
In the mass extinction process that preceded the Paleocene, marine dinosaurs also disappeared, giving sharks scope to become the dominant predators.
During this period many of the fish that still persist in the seas made their appearance..
Mammals were perhaps the most successful group within the Paleocene fauna. There was a wide range of groups, among which the placentals, monotremes and marsupials stood out..
They are a group of mammals that are characterized because the development of the fetus occurs inside the mother's body, and communication is established between them through very important structures such as the umbilical cord and the placenta. The placentals were the most diverse and widespread group during the Paleocene.
This group includes lemurs, rodents and primates, among others.
In this infraclass of mammals, the female presents a kind of bag, known as a marsupium, in which the young finish their development after being born. Currently they are only distributed in the American continent and Australia.
Of this group there were few representatives in the Paleocene.
It is a rather peculiar group of mammals, since its characteristics resemble those of other groups, such as reptiles or birds. The monotremes have the body covered with hair, like all mammals, but they are oviparous. Because of this it has been a highly studied group. Monotremes include the platypus and echidna.
The Paleocene epoch is divided into three ages:
Yet No Comments