Tertiary facts for kids
The Tertiary was a name once used for a long stretch of Earth's history. It's like an old chapter title in Earth's storybook that we don't use anymore. This period was the first part of the Cainozoic Era, which is the era we live in today.
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What Was the Tertiary Period?
The Tertiary period used to cover a huge amount of time, from about 66 million years ago to 2.58 million years ago. During this time, Earth changed a lot. New types of plants and animals appeared.
Why Don't We Use "Tertiary" Anymore?
Scientists are always learning more about Earth's past. Because of new discoveries, they decided to split the Tertiary period into two new, more specific periods. These are the Palaeogene and the Neogene. It's like taking a very long book chapter and dividing it into two shorter, more detailed chapters.
The Palaeogene Period
The Palaeogene period came first. It started right after the dinosaurs disappeared. This period saw the rise of many new mammals. It lasted from about 66 million years ago to 23 million years ago.
The Neogene Period
After the Palaeogene came the Neogene period. During this time, Earth's climate changed, and many modern animal groups started to appear. This period lasted from about 23 million years ago to 2.58 million years ago.
Who Decides Geological Names?
You might wonder who gets to decide these big changes to Earth's timeline. It's not just one person! There's a special group called the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). This group has experts from all over the world.
The International Commission on Stratigraphy
Inside the IUGS, there's a team called the International Commission on Stratigraphy. Their job is to study Earth's layers of rock, called "strata." They decide how we should name and organize all the different periods and stages of Earth's history. They make sure everyone uses the same names so scientists can understand each other.
Why is it Called the Quaternary?
The period we are in right now is called the Quaternary. It started right after the Neogene period. The name "Quaternary" might seem a bit odd since "Tertiary" isn't used anymore. But it's a leftover from when "Tertiary" was the name for the period before it. It's like a historical name that just stuck around!
