Final answer:
The Cenozoic Era, or the age of mammals, consists of the Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary periods, with each period further subdivided into epochs. Currently, we are in the Quaternary Period's Holocene epoch, which began after the last ice age approximately 12,000 years ago.
Step-by-step explanation:
The periods and epochs of the Cenozoic Era, which is also known as the age of mammals, are sequential divisions of geologic time that allow scientists to describe the history of Earth and its life. The Cenozoic has been divided into three periods:
-
During the Cenozoic Era, mammals underwent significant evolutionary changes, filling niches left empty by the extinction of dinosaurs. This era began around 65 million years ago and has been marked by both climatic changes, such as the ice ages during the Quaternary Period, and remarkable evolutionary advancements in the mammalian lineage.