Within the era Cenozoic we meet the Paleocene epoch that spanned from about 66 million years ago to about 56 million years ago. It was located within the Paleogene period and is known for some drastic changes that existed on the planet. The Paleocene fauna it was characterized by a process of mass extinction of the dinosaurs and with somewhat hostile conditions. During this time, some conditions were established so that the planet was somewhat more stable and could give rise to the development of numerous plants and animals.
In this article we are going to tell you about all the characteristics and evolution of the Paleocene fauna.
Paleocene epoch
During that time the planet was quite active from a geological point of view. The continental drift continued its movement to separate the super continent known as Pangea and the continents shifted towards their present location.
In terms of biodiversity, this was a time of abundant animal and plant life. The animal groups that survived the extinction of the previous period managed to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. From then on, they expanded, occupying large areas of land and diversifying into species and genera.
Given the intense geological activity that characterized this period, some tectonic plates that began their movement during the cretaceous They eventually settled in other positions throughout the Paleocene. The climate also caused some temperature maximums that They caused a drastic change in the development of the species of living beings and their area of distribution and habitat.
Biodiversity and flora
Since the Paleocene began immediately after a global mass extinction, many species had to survive and adapt to new conditions. This mass extinction forced the surviving species to diversify both in terms of territory and evolution. Many of these surviving species became the planet's new dominant species.
This process of mass extinction was the most studied and recognized in history and is known as the Cretaceous and Tertiary mass extinctionThis is where much of the planet's fauna became extinct, with the dinosaurs being the most notable.
Regarding Paleocene flora, we find many plants that still exist today. Some of the plants that developed during this period were palm trees, conifers, and cacti. This has been revealed thanks to fossil records collected by specialists. There were also places where ferns were abundant.
Since the climate that prevailed during the Paleocene was quite warm and humid It favored the development of large areas of land with leafy plants and greenery, typical of the first pristine tropical forests and jungles. This development of tropical ecosystems rich in moisture, warm temperatures, and abundant vegetation may have allowed for the emergence of new fauna.
Conifers dominated all those places where the temperature was lower. These conifers extended to those regions near the poles. Another of the plants that continued their diversification were the angiosperms. These plants are kept today.
Paleocene fauna
As for the Paleocene fauna, we have a lot of animals that had to survive the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous. The animals that were able to survive Surviving, they had the opportunity to diversify and expand across diverse terrains around the planetThey especially took advantage of the fact that the dinosaurs were no longer around, as they were the largest predators on the planet. The presence of dinosaurs competed for environmental resources, so without them, diversification and territorial occupation was much easier.
Among the groups of animals that belonged to the fauna of the Paleocene and that spread in greater proportion were mammals, birds, reptiles and fishLet's analyze each of them.
reptiles
Reptiles were the group of animals that survived the extinction and benefited from the prevailing climatic conditions of this era. These environmental conditions allowed them to spread to more areas that became suitable for their survival.
Among the reptiles more abundant campsosaurs predominated, They lived in aquatic habitats. Their bodies were similar to those of large lizards, and they had a long tail with four smaller limbs. Some of these specimens could grow up to 4 meters long, and their teeth were capable of hunting their prey with great ease. Snakes and turtles also developed during this period.
Birds
Paleocene birds inhabited this planet and expanded thanks to rising temperatures in tropical areas. Birds of the genus Gastornis, known as terror birdsThey were large in size but flightless. The main characteristic of this genus was their large, heavily textured beaks. They were carnivorous, and were fearsome predators for many animals.
Throughout this period, many bird species that persist today developed and emerged thanks to environmental conditions. Among this group of birds, we find seagulls, owls, pigeons and ducks, Among others.
Paleocene fauna: fish and mammals
During the Cretaceous mass extinction, much of the marine fauna and all marine dinosaurs also disappeared. This led to less competition in the marine environment and led to the spread of sharks to become the new dominant predators. Many of the fish that survive today appeared during this period.
As for mammals, it was the most successful group within the Paleocene fauna. Placental mammals, monotremes, and marsupials stood out. Placental mammals are a group of mammals whose main characteristic is the development of the fetus inside the mother. Communication between the two is established through the umbilical cord and the placenta. This group includes rodents, lemurs and primates, among others.
Marsupials are another group of mammals whose females have a pouch known as a marsupium. These include kangaroos, although they didn't have many representatives in the Paleocene. Finally, monotremes were animals whose characteristics resembled reptiles and birds. Their bodies are covered in fur, but they are oviparous. These include the platypus and the echidna.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the fauna of the Paleocene.