The Eocene epoch, spanning from approximately 56 to 33.9 million years ago, is a geological epoch of the Paleogene period. During this time, the Earth’s climate was significantly warmer than it is today, and the planet experienced a greenhouse climate with high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Eocene is characterized by the diversification and spread of modern mammal groups, including primates, rodents, and ungulates. Additionally, the Eocene witnessed the emergence of several significant groups of plants, such as the modern families of grasses and flowering plants. Marine ecosystems flourished during this epoch, with abundant coral reefs and diverse marine life. The Eocene is also notable for the presence of large, apex predators like the early ancestors of modern sharks, including Otodus obliquus.
