Basic Facts

• Meaning: “Recent Life”
• Epoch: Paleogene (Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene), Neogene, Quaternary.
• Time Span: ~66 million years ago to present day.
• Dominant Life Forms: Mammals, birds and humans.
• Major Events: The Ice Age.
• Total fossils catalogued: Millions of modern specimens as of 2026.