The second epoch of the Neogene period. Preceded by the Miocene and followed by the Pleistocene, it extended from about 5.3 million years ago to 2.58 million years ago. Mammals similar to modern forms existed during the epoch and the australopithecines (seeaustralopithecus), hominins that coexisted with early humans, appeared.
Geology and Earth Sciences
The more recent (5.332–1.806 Ma ago) of the two Neogene epochs, comprising the Zanclean, Piacenzian, and Gelasian ages.