This video from the Museums Florida Fossils exhibit describes the Miocene Epoch 24 million to 5 million years ago. While much of the Northern Hemisphere was becoming cooler the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico protected Florida. Still Floridas climate became increasingly drier and more seasonal particularly during the late Miocene. Shallow water marine habitats supported thousands of species of marine animals and plants. Life on land was becoming increasingly more abundant. The spread of grassland savannas with mixed woodlands offered a wide range of plant foods for grazing and browsing mammals. Florida had giant tortoises giant sloths elephantlike proboscideans tapirs camels horses rhinos and of course predators like beardogs and sabertoothed false cats. Produced directed and filmed for the Florida Museum of Natural History by Wes C. Skiles/Karst Productions Inc.

TeacherTube Science | June 14, 2012

Tags:. .Teaching Science. .skiles. .grassland. .mixed. .animals