Editing Cenozoic (section)

===Neogene===
The [[Neogene]] spans from 23.03&nbsp;million to 2.58&nbsp;million years ago.  It features two epochs: the Miocene, and the Pliocene.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/408872/Neogene-Period|title=Neogene|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|date=9 August 2024 }}</ref>

The [[Miocene Epoch]] spans from 23.03 to 5.333&nbsp;million years ago and is a period in which [[grasses]] spread further, dominating a large portion of the world, at the expense of forests. [[Kelp]] forests evolved, encouraging the evolution of new species, such as [[sea otter]]s. During this time, [[Perissodactyla]] thrived, and evolved into many different varieties. [[Apes]] evolved into 30 species. The [[Tethys Sea]] finally closed with the creation of the [[Arabian Peninsula]], leaving only remnants as the [[Black Sea|Black]], [[Red Sea|Red]], [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] and [[Caspian Sea]]s. This increased aridity. Many new plants evolved: 95% of modern [[Spermatophyte|seed plants]] families were present by the end of the Miocene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/tertiary/miocene.php|title=Miocene|author=University of California|work=University of California}}</ref>

The [[Pliocene Epoch]] lasted from 5.333 to 2.58&nbsp;million years ago. The Pliocene featured dramatic climatic changes, which ultimately led to modern species of flora and fauna. The Mediterranean Sea dried up for several million years (because the [[ice age]]s reduced sea levels, disconnecting the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] from the Mediterranean, and evaporation rates exceeded inflow from rivers). ''[[Australopithecus]]'' evolved in [[Africa]], beginning the human branch. The [[Isthmus of Panama]] formed, and animals migrated between [[North America|North]] and [[South America]] during the [[great American interchange]], wreaking havoc on local ecologies. Climatic changes brought: [[savanna]]s that are still continuing to spread across the world; Indian [[monsoon]]s; [[desert]]s in central [[Asia]]; and the beginnings of the [[Sahara]] desert. The world map has not changed much since, save for changes brought about by the [[glaciations]] of the Quaternary, such as the [[Great Lakes]], [[Hudson Bay]], and the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/tertiary/pliocene.php|title=Pliocene|author=University of California|work=University of California}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esd.ornl.gov/projects/qen/pliocene.html|title=Pliocene climate|first=Jonathan |last=Adams|work=Oak Ridge National Library|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225011508/http://www.esd.ornl.gov/projects/qen/pliocene.html|archive-date=25 February 2015}}</ref>