Which era is known as the age of mammals?

The Cenozoic Era is widely recognized as the age of mammals, which began approximately 66 million years ago and continues to the present day. During this time, mammals evolved rapidly after the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Mesozoic Era. The climate during the Cenozoic has also been conducive to the diversification of mammals, leading to the emergence of many species and families that dominate today’s ecosystems.

In this era, mammals adapted to a variety of habitats and increasingly became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates. The developments in mammalian characteristics, such as the evolution of structures for warmer and more efficient metabolism, have allowed mammals to thrive in diverse environments from forests to deserts to oceans.

The other eras listed do not focus on mammals. The Paleozoic Era is characterized by the proliferation of fish, amphibians, and early reptiles. The Mesozoic Era, often referred to as the age of reptiles, is dominated by dinosaurs. The Proterozoic Era precedes these eras and involves earlier forms of life, like simple multicellular organisms and a time when complex life as we know it had not yet developed. This context helps clarify why the Cenozoic Era is specifically known for its prominence of mammals.