We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Some Cenozoic Animals?

Michael Anissimov
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 12,982
Share

Cenozoic animals are those which have existed in the past 65.5 million years, since the obliteration of the dinosaurs by a massive asteroid strike called the K-T extinction event. After the K-T extinction, the primary land animals remaining were small reptiles and rodent-like mammals. These rodent-like mammals quickly diversified and came to occupy all major niches, left empty by the departure of the dinosaurs. With a fast metabolism, close care for their young, and a relatively large brain, mammals were well-positioned to take control of terrestrial ecosystems and become the dominant Cenozoic animals.

The only living Cenozoic animals immediately after the K-T extinction were small insectivores with excellent hearing and smell but mediocre vision. The earliest Cenozoic animals were adapted primarily to hunting in the night, when dinosaurs probably were less active due to their slower metabolisms. These insectivores differentiated into lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas), bats, early primates, true rodents, and tree shrews in the late Paleocene, about 55 million years ago, while another line developed into the ancestors of most large mammals today -- members of the clade Ferae.

The Ferae clade differentiated into the ancestors of modern carnivorans (dogs, cats, and bears), ungulates (hoofed animals), and cetaceans (whales, dolphins, etc.) The dominant carnivores throughout much of the early Cenozoic were creodonts, early cousins of carnivorans; mesonychids, which were related to modern even-toed ungulates but were carnivorous; and entelodonts, which were large pig-like animals with bony lumps on the side of their cheeks they used to kill their prey.

The large herbivorous Cenozoic animals mostly radiated from the condylarths, an extinct group of animals that are the common ancestor of all present-day ungulates, including cows, pigs, horses, deer, hippos, rhinos, camels, elephants, etc. The most significant event of evolutionary radiation occurred when condylarths shifted their diet to include plant matter, a change from the previous diet which was exclusively insectivorous. There is disagreement as to exactly where and when these evolutionary events took place.

During the Cenozoic, mammals adapted to live in both the air (bats) and the oceans (whales), in both cases evolving from exclusively terrestrial ancestors. The blue whale, a marine mammal, became what is likely the largest animal of all time, even larger than the largest confirmed dinosaurs. Many Cenozoic animals that thrived early on in the period are now extinct, leaving only their descendants.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-are-some-cenozoic-animals.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.