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Palaeogene
Palaeogene The Palaeogene is the older of the two Cenozoic sub-periods that are now recognized. It includes the Palaeocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs, spanning the time from the end of the Mesozoic to the beginning of the Neogene, i.e. from 65 Ma to 23 Ma. The term ‘Palaeogene’ was originally introduced by the Austrian geologist Moritz Hoernes in 1856 and was used as a basic equivalent to the Eocene of Charles Lyell. The term ‘Neogene’ was employed to embrace the two later stages, the Miocene and the Pliocene. Hoernes, like Lyell, was much impressed with the wealth of the fossil molluscan faunas of Cenozoic rocks and was influenced by their stratigraphical distribution in Eastern Europe. Subsequently the recognition and adoption of the Oligocene Series restricted Lyell's original Eocene, but had no impact upon the biostratigraphical definition of the Palaeogene. The Oligocene is today generally recognized as the third and uppermost series within the Palaeogene. The Paleocene, as recognized both in North America and Eurasia, is the oldest series.
There is an appreciable difference between the fossil record of the Palaeogene and its successor, not only among the marine molluscan faunas, but also among the fossil vertebrates, principally the mammals. Palaeogene forms include those large herbivores commonly known as the ‘archaic mammals’, whereas the basic stocks of modern mammalian faunas begin to appear with the dawn of the Neogene; the first hominids are present. Palaeogene time saw a continuing opening of the North Atlantic and a general disposition of the continents similar to that of today; for example, Australian separation from Antarctica was completed. Climatic changes continued, largely influenced by the growth of the Tethyan–Himalayan ranges. D. L. Dineley |
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PAUL HANCOCK and BRIAN J. SKINNER. "Palaeogene." The Oxford Companion to the Earth. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PAUL HANCOCK and BRIAN J. SKINNER. "Palaeogene." The Oxford Companion to the Earth. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O112-Palaeogene.html PAUL HANCOCK and BRIAN J. SKINNER. "Palaeogene." The Oxford Companion to the Earth. 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O112-Palaeogene.html |
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Palaeogene
Palaeogene The earlier of the two periods which comprise the Tertiary sub-Era, preceded by the Cretaceous, followed by the Neogene, and dated at 65–23.3 Ma ( Harland et al., 1989). The Palaeogene Period is subdivided into the Palaeocene, Eocene, and Oligocene Epochs.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Palaeogene.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Palaeogene.html |
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Palaeogene
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Palaeogene.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Palaeogene.html |
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Palaeogene
Palaeogene The first period of the Cenozoic Era, 65.5–23.03 Ma ago, comprising the Palaeocene, Eocene, and Oligocene Epochs.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Palaeogene.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Palaeogene." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Palaeogene.html |
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