During the Miocene period, the Earth's climate changed from cold to hot, with steamy jungles and scorching deserts. By the end of the Miocene, human ancestors had separated from their chimpanzee ancestors to follow their own evolutionary paths. In the Miocene seas, kelp forests made their first appearance and quickly became some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay The Miocene Epoch began 23.8 million years ago and ended 5,000 years ago. 3 million years. Many plants and animals thrived during the Miocene period because the climate and weather conditions were perfect for life. Some animals that thrived during this period were Teuthidae, Deer, Elephants, Felidae, Canidae, Accipitridae, Corvidae, Crocodyidae, Boidae, and Salmonidae. Some flowering plants include Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Pinophyta, Fagaceae, Pinales, Liliaceae and Rosaceae. During the Miocene period, life relied primarily on two newly formed biomes, kelp forests and grasslands. Grasslands supported greater numbers of grazers such as horses, deer, rhinos and hippos. Ninety-five percent of modern plants existed by the end of this period. The Miocene period was a period of warmer global climates than those of the preceding Oligocene. Miocene warming began 21 million years ago and continued until 14 million years ago. By 8 million years ago, temperatures dropped sharply again and the Atlantic ice sheet was already approaching its current size and thickness. Greenland may have started having large glaciers 7 to 8 million years ago, although the climate remained mostly warm enough to support forests. The pattern of biological change in the Miocene is one of expanding open vegetation systems such as tundra, deserts and grasslands, at the expense of dense vegetation such as forests. This led to the re-diversification of temperate ecosystems and many morphological changes in animals. Mammals and birds in particular have evolved new forms, whether fast herbivores, large predatory mammals and birds, or small, fast birds and rodents. Because the Miocene is closer to today than most other geologic periods, it is easier to see the effects of events and interpret patterns. Many fossil species from this era have close relatives living today, which can be good or bad. During the Miocene period, the continents continued to drift toward their current positions. Among modern geological features, only the land bridge between South and North America was absent. However, South America was approaching the western subduction zone of the Pacific Ocean, causing both the rise of the Andes and a southward extension of the Mesoamerican Peninsula. Mountain building took place in Western Europe, Eastern Asia, and North America. India continued to collide with Asia, creating new mountain ranges. Subsequent mountain uplift in the western Mediterranean region and global sea level decline combined to cause a temporary drying of the Mediterranean Sea, known as the "Messinian salinity crisis". The global trend was increasing..