Palaeogene

Palaeogene |ˈpalɪə (ʊ )dʒiːn, ˈpeɪ - |(US Paleogene ) ▶adjective Geology relating to or denoting the earlier division of the Tertiary period, comprising the Palaeocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs. Compare with Neogene. • (as noun the Palaeogene ) the Palaeogene sub-period or the system of rocks deposited during it. The Palaeogene lasted from about 65 to 23 million years ago. The mammals diversified following the demise of the dinosaurs, and many bizarre and gigantic forms appeared. ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from palaeo- + Greek genēs ‘of a specified kind ’ (see -gen ).