Pliocene

The Pliocene epoch (a.k.a. formerly Pleiocene) is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.3 million to 1.8 million years before present.

Pliocene paleogeography

Continents continued to drift toward their present positions, moving from positions possibly as far as 250km from their present locations to positions only 70 km from their current locations. South America became linked to North America through the Isthmus of Panama during the Pliocene, bringing a nearly complete end to South America's distinctive marsupial faunas. The formation of the Isthmus would have major consequences on global temperatures, as warm equatorial ocean currents were cut off and an Atlantic cooling cycle began, with cold Arctic and Antarctic waters dropping temperatures in the now-isolated Atlantic Ocean.

Related Topics:
Drift - Isthmus of Panama - Marsupial - Atlantic

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Africa's collision with Europe formed the Mediterranean Sea, cutting off the remnants of the Tethys Ocean.

Related Topics:
Mediterranean Sea - Tethys Ocean

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Sea level changes exposed the land-bridge between Alaska and Asia.

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Pliocene marine rocks are well exposed in the Mediterranean, India, and China. Elsewhere, they are exposed largely near shores.

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