pliocene

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the geological epoch about 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago, immediately before the Pleistocene

   During the Pliocene, climates cooled and many modern groups of mammals continued to diversify.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to, formed during, or characteristic of the Pliocene Epoch

   The researchers recovered Pliocene fossils from the exposed sedimentary beds.

Coined from Greek pleion, 'more,' and kainos, 'new or recent.' The name indicated that its fossil mollusks included a greater proportion of living species than those in the older Miocene strata.

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