Time runs left (older) → right (younger) · Hover a card for details
First whales; warm greenhouse climate; modern mammal orders appear (56-33.9 Ma).
56.00 Ma – 33.90 Ma · 22.10 Ma duration
Axis labels in Ma (millions of years ago) ·
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Eocene Epoch 2
56 Ma – 55.8 MaPaleocene-Eocene Thermal MaximumPETM — rapid global warmingGlobal temperatures rise 5-8 C in under 20,000 years; closest ancient analogue to modern climate change.
53 MaFirst WhalesReturn to the seaPakicetus and relatives begin transitioning from land to aquatic life.