Tertiary period was previously one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, from the end of the Cretaceous period about 65 million years ago to the start of the Quaternary period about 1.6 million years ago. Its use has been widespread and continues, however the International Commission on Stratigraphy no longer endorses this term as part of the formal stratigraphic nomenclature. Instead the Paleogene and Neogene periods are recommended as the primary subdivisions of the Cenozoic era. In common usage, the Tertiary has included five geologic epochs -- the Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene and Pliocene.

The Tertiary covers roughly the time span between the demise of the dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent ice age. At the beginning of the period mammal replaced reptiles as the dominant animals. Each epoch of the Tertiary was marked by striking developments in mammalian life. The earliest recognizable hominoid relatives of humans, Proconsul and Australopithecus, appeared. Modern types of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates either were already numerous at the beginning of the period or appeared early in its history. Modern families of flowering plants evolved. Marine invertebrates and non-mammal marine vertebrates experienced only modest evolution.

Continental drift was modest. Gondwana finally split completely apart, and India collided with the Eurasian plate. South America was connected to North America toward the end of the Tertiary. Antarctica -- which was already separate -- drifted to its current position over the South Pole. Widespread volcanic activity was prevalent. Climates during the Tertiary slowly cooled, starting off in the Paleocene with tropical-to-moderate worldwide temperatures and ending up with extensive glaciations at the end of the period.

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What Kind Of Tertiary Education In The States?: I’m from Malaysia and i’m 18 years old. I would like.. http://bit.ly/nHPct
blogtoblog (blogblog) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:30:50 -0000
What Kind Of Tertiary Education In The States?: I’m from Malaysia and i’m 18 years old. I would like.. http://bit.ly/nHPct
automated water tank: Hello all, I am a tertiary student in Fiji (South Pacific), the area i live in unfortun.. http://bit.ly/oRjcc
crazyengineers (crazyengineers) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:10:53 -0000
automated water tank: Hello all, I am a tertiary student in Fiji (South Pacific), the area i live in unfortun.. http://bit.ly/oRjcc
New business loans mainly invest in tertiary industry: According to the Shanghai headquarters of People's Bank o.. http://bit.ly/qqGQf
ChinaBizNow (ChinaBizNow) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:48:20 -0000
New business loans mainly invest in tertiary industry: According to the Shanghai headquarters of People's Bank o.. http://bit.ly/qqGQf
@deangroom vested interests will retain summative assess as controllable.If tertiary entrance, formative ebased,school learning will respond
TonySearl (TonySearl) Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:47:17 -0000
@deangroom vested interests will retain summative assess as controllable.If tertiary entrance, formative ebased,school learning will respond
@ubersoft Yeah, I can't figure it either.
tertiary (M.S.) Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:57:23 -0000
@ubersoft Yeah, I can't figure it either.
Finally back in the office. As suspected, driving into/out of DC today approximated tertiary levels of hell. But: Ethiopian for lunch!
examorata (examorata) Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:45:30 -0000
Finally back in the office. As suspected, driving into/out of DC today approximated tertiary levels of hell. But: Ethiopian for lunch!

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