Late Miocene

The Late Miocene, also called the Upper Miocene, was a time period in Earth's history. It was part of the larger Miocene epoch and included two main stages: the Tortonian and the Messinian. This important period lasted from about 11.63 million years ago to 5.333 million years ago. During the Late Miocene, the world looked quite different from today, with changes in climate and the positions of continents affecting life on Earth. Scientists study this time to learn about how Earth has changed over millions of years.

Biology

The gibbons and orangutans were the first groups to separate from the line that leads to humans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos. Some believe this split happened between 4 and 8 million years ago, during the Late Miocene.

In the Iberian Peninsula, the number of animals that eat grass grew, while those that eat leaves or fruits decreased. This change happened as the climate became drier. During this time, cats and dogs also became more diverse in this area.