Epoch Mio

Miocene

23.0400 – 5.3330 Ma

The Miocene is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from approximately 23 to 5 million years ago (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell and comes from Ancient Greek μείων (meíōn), lit. 'less', and καινός (kainós), lit. 'new' or 'recent', and thus means "less recent", because it has 18% fewer modern marine invertebrates than the Pliocene has. The Miocene followed the Oligocene and preceded the Pliocene.

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Miocene
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© Scotese, Christopher R.; Vérard, Christian; Burgener, Landon; Elling, Reece P.; Kocsis, Ádám T. · CC BY 4.0
News 7
Fossil Skull from Peru Reveals Pygmy Sperm Whale with Record-Breaking Facial Asymmetry
Fossil Skull from Peru Reveals Pygmy Sperm Whale with Record-Breaking Facial Asymmetry
Some six million years ago (Late Miocene epoch), a pygmy sperm whale with a face unlike anything in today’s oceans may have swept its downturned snout along the shallow seabed off what is now southern Peru. The post Fossil Skull from Peru Reveals Pygmy Sperm Whale with Record-Breaking Facial Asymmetry appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
09/11/2026 sci-news
New Haolonggood Purussaurus Models Coming into Stock
The two, recently announced Haolonggood Purussaurus models are coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur. The UK-based mail order company already stocks the Haolonggood Sarcosuchus figures. They make an excellent accompaniment to Haolonggood's Spinosaurus and Ouranosaurus models.  Purussaurus lived during the Miocene Epoch. Therefore, this crocodilian is geologically much younger than Sarcosuchus. Two colour variants
03/10/2026 everythingdinosaur
Remarkable Miocene Flowers Preserved in Amber Reveal an Ancient Rainforest
Miocene flowers preserved in amber are providing scientists with a remarkable glimpse into a tropical rainforest that flourished around 15 million years ago. The tiny flowers come from the famous Zhangpu flora of Fujian Province in south-east China. Researchers from China and Europe examined two exceptionally well-preserved fossil flowers. Their study demonstrates that climbing plants,
11/09/2026 everythingdinosaur
This 23-foot crocodylian may have ruled South America’s food chain
Miocene South America was packed with giant prey—and the predators hunting them were just as spectacular. Fossil bite marks suggest crocodylians, especially the enormous Purussaurus neivensis, were more important predators than mammals in this ancient tropical ecosystem. At around seven meters long, Purussaurus may even have helped control populations of giant herbivores.
19/08/2026 sciencedaily-paleo
Early Miocene Fossil Rewrites Family Tree of Little Carnivorous Marsupials
Early Miocene Fossil Rewrites Family Tree of Little Carnivorous Marsupials
Paleontologists at the University of New South Wales have described a new genus and species of dasyurid marsupial from the Early Miocene of Australia, offering the first solid evidence that the family Dasyuridae -- which today includes quolls, Tasmanian devils and tiny antechinuses -- existed long before scientists had proof of it in the fossil record. The post Early Miocene Fossil Rewrites Family Tree of Little Carnivorous Marsupials appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
24/07/2026 sci-news
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Parent interval
Neogene Period
Sub-intervals 6
Aquitanian
23.0400 – 20.4500
Burdigalian
20.4500 – 15.9800
Langhian
15.9800 – 13.8200
Serravallian
13.8200 – 11.6300
Tortonian
11.6300 – 7.2460
Messinian
7.2460 – 5.3330