Eocene Epoch Florida Fossils Evolution of Life and Land

This video from the Museums Florida Fossils exhibit describes the Eocene 55 million to 34 million years ago. During this period lush tropical forests blanketed much of the worlds landmasses and oceans were generally warmer than today. Florida was underwater with a rich mosaic of shallow and deeper water habitats on a submerged limestone platform. The coastlines of southeastern North America were patrolled by large predators including sharks crocodilians and primitive toothed whales called archaeocetes while fourlegged primitive sea cows waded and swam in the shallows. Tropical ocean currents bathed the carbonate banks marine habitats. The Tethys Sea provided an eastwest throughway for dispersal of sea creatures and plants from far and wide. Produced directed and filmed for the Florida Museum of Natural History by Wes C. Skiles/Karst Productions Inc.

TeacherTube Science | June 13, 2012

Tags:. .Teaching Science. .skiles. .eastwest. .rich. .sea