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)

Editor

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

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.