Miocene: 24-5.3mya (18 déc. 24000000 av. J.-C. – 27 oct. 5300000 av. J.-C.)

Description:

Climate: Warm and wet for a short period initially.
20mya Isolation and cooling of Antarctica.
15mya Southern ice cap formed.
10mya Australia drying out and arriving in sub-tropics.
5.3mya Terminal Miocene event. Cold, dry, arid period begins.
Continental movement: 20mya Antarctica stranded over South Pole.
Australia and Tasmania: Drifting north at 7 cm per year
Vegetation history: 17mya Antarctic flora succumbs to cold
15mya Changed from closed forest to wet schlerophyl forest, open forest to savannah woodland and grasses. Eucalypts, Acacias, Casuarinas, and grasses become dominent.
10mya fire becomes important factor.