Paleocene

The Paleocene was an epoch of the Paleogene it was the first one of the subdivisions of the Cenozioc. It includes the time between the end of the Cretaceous (66 million years ago) and the early Eocene (56 million years ago). The beginning and end are marked by the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event and the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maxium, respectively. As with other geologic periods, the strata that define the period are well identified, but not been dated with maxium precision.

CLIMATE: Paleocene began with a climate colder and dryer than the previous period, the Cretaceous. Average tempeatures were between 2 and 3ºC lower than the Maastrichtian (the final resting place of the Cretaceous fauna), but even these were significantly higher than today. Seasonal variations were realtively minor, like the variations between different latitudes. The few exiting glaciers were practically limited Antartica.

GEOGRAPHY: The third and final phase of the fragmentation of large super continent Pangea ocurred early Cenozoic, between the Paleocene and the Oligocene. Laurentia (North America) continued separating Eurasia and the mighty Atlantic Ocean, although it is believed that there was still a connection between the two land masses. While the Atlantic grew, the ancient Tethys Ocean continued closing due to the approach of the African and Eurasian continents.

South and North America remained separated by equatorial seas, and remain united the second half Neogene; components of ancient southern super.continent of Gondwana continued separating and Africa, South America, Antartica and the Australian continent. They hid from each other.

BIOLOGY:

Birds: Terrifyng bird show up, large birds that were apex of its ecosystem. As owls or Anseriformes (ducks, geese...).

Mammals: From the very beginning of the Paleocene are the bats (rat-bat) and artiodacyls (a diverse group that includes whales and "elsartiodàctils"), although the latest research only confirms the diversification of marsupials.

Fish: They increase the population of sharks since the demise of the dinosaurs died major marine predators such as plesiosaurs.

Reptiles: Apart from the non-avian dinosaurs, reptiles overcame quite well because 80% of reptiles survive and did not disappear any kind of turtle.

Flora: All the Fora was located above the KT. The forests stretching from pole to pole, minus the driest deserts. Appeared deciduous forests.




Some animals of the Panteocene



Fragmentation of the super-continent Pangea



One of the Paleocene ecosystem.

Reptile of the paleocene.