Cenozoic Fossils in the Set - Essay Example

Cenozoic Fossils
1. Cenozoic Fossils in the set:
Shark tooth and snails are the main Cenozoic fossils that the fossil set have. Here are their characteristics:
Fossil Phylum Subphylum Age Characteristics
Shark tooth Chordata Vertebrata Cenozoic The shape is like the tooth of a shark. Cartilage is present in its body.
Snail Mollusca Gastropoda Middle Pliocene Soft bodies are available in sediments, marine water, and gardens; some of them are parasitic.

2. Cenozoic is the era from which we get the highest number of marine fossils. Most of these fossils are white. Shark teeth and snails in the fossil set go with all the characteristics that are to be present in the Cenozoic fossils and this is why it has been easy to identify them.

Plate Tectonics and Cenozoic Life
The Southern Pacific region was the main place where Plate Tectonics had its highest impact on the lives existing during the Cenozoic Period. Glaciation is one of the known happenings that took place during this time. Both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial reasons are believed to be involved in these matters. Solar radiation change was one of the prime causes of this glaciation during the Cenozoic Period. The latter part of this glaciation took place in the high altitudes. Some of the main landforms on this planet were created during this particular period. Among, the mentionable ones are Tibetan Plateau, Andes, and the Himalayas. (Menzies 47)
The Mesozoic Extinction survivors continued to live during the Cenozoic Period. This was the time when modern birds appeared for the first time during their evolutionary journey. Savanna grasslands were seen in many parts of the world. Most of the vertebrates lived in the sea. However, there were insect eaters and herbivores in the lands. The complete extinction of the dinosaurs took place during the Cenozoic Period.

Glacial Lake Missoula and the State of Washington
The Scablands were the main creation in the state of Washington by the flood from Lake Missoula in the Cenozoic Period. The floodwater went to the Pacific Ocean from Lake Missoula during this age. According to the records, the rate of flow of this water was 60 times more than the regular flow of Amazon water. Eastern Washington was entirely flooded by the water which rushed throughout the land at a speed of about 50 miles per hour. Today, the ‘Scablands’ is the main evidence of this phase in the state of Washington.
Part 2: Discussion Board
Cenozoic Period is considered as the recent most period in the world. Therefore, surprises with evidence of this era are still found on our planet. One such incident took place in Denmark when a fossil of a Cenozoic parrot was discovered there. The wingspan of this parrot is said to be about 20 feet. Northwestern Jutland is the place where the fossil has been discovered. According to scientists, the fossil belongs to a period, which is almost 55 million years from now. They have also said that this is one of the oldest parrot species that have been discovered so far. The genus of this parrot, according to the researchers, is known to be Mopsitta. However, the men who discovered it have named it “Danish Blue”. (United Press International 2008) Read More