20111105 - Evolution: life in the late Oligocene

[Quasiscience] [<Normal page] [PEREZGONZALEZ Jose D [ed] (2011). Evolution: life in the late Oligocene. Journal of Knowledge Advancement & Integration (ISSN 1177-4576), 2011, pages 168-169.]

Evolution: life in the Chattian Age (late Oligocene, Cenozoic)

'Walking with Beasts' is a dramatization of life in the Cenozoic, focused mainly on the evolution of mammals. "Broadcast in 2001, it told the story of life on Earth from the death of the dinosaurs to the dawn of the age of man" (BBC, 20011). The third episode ('Land of Giants') is centered on the Chattian Age. (See also Wikipedia, 20112.)

Time: Chattian Age (25 million years ago), late Oligocene Epoch, in the Cenozoic Era.
Setting: Mongolia, with weather characterized by seasonal rains followed by long droughts.
Main species featured in the episode:
  • Paraceratherium (identified as Indricothere), a herbivorous mammal related to rhinoceros, yet a genus nowadays extinct.
  • Hyaenodon, a carnivorous mammal, a genus nowadays extinct.
  • Chalicotherium (identified as Chalicothere), a herbivorous mammal, a relative of horses, yet a genus nowadays extinct.
  • Entelodon (identified as Entelodont), an omnivore mammal, a genus nowadays extinct.
  • Cynodictis (identified as bear dog), a carnivore mammal, a genus nowadays extinct.
(Video 1/3 embedded from YouTube on 26 October 2011)
(Video 2/3 embedded from YouTube on 26 October 2011)
(Video 3/3 embedded from YouTube on 26 October 2011)
References
1. BBC (2001). Walking with beasts. Retrieved from the BBC on 26 October 2011.
2. WIKIPEDIA (2011). Walking with beasts. Retrieved from Wikipedia on 26 October 2011.

Want to know more?

'Walking with beasts' TV series
Both the BBC, in the UK, and ABC, in Australia, offer more information about the making of the series.
Wikipedia - Geologic history of Earth
The following Wikipedia pages offer more information about the Chattian Age, the Oligocene Epoch, and the Cenozoic Era.
Wikipedia - Walking with beasts
This Wikipedia page offers more information about the series and companion book.

Editor

Jose D PEREZGONZALEZ (2011). Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. (JDPerezgonzalezJDPerezgonzalez).


Other interesting sites
320
Journal KAI
105px-Stylised_Lithium_Atom.png
Wiki of Science
120px-Aileron_roll.gif
AviationKnowledge
Artwork-194-web.jpg
A4art
Artwork-162-web.jpg
The Balanced Nutrition Index
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License