Tortonian

What is the Tortonian?

The Tortonian is a special time in Earth's long history. It was part of a big time called the late Miocene. This time lasted from about 11.6 million years ago to 7.2 million years ago. It came after another time called the Serravallian and was followed by the Messinian.

Why Do We Know About It?

People learned about the Tortonian from small fossils found in rocks. These fossils help scientists learn how Earth and its plants and animals were changing millions of years ago. The Tortonian was named after a lovely city called Tortona in Piedmont, Italy.

Fun Changes From That Time

During the Tortonian, many interesting things were happening. Deep water from the North Atlantic started flowing into the Indian Ocean. This was a big change for the oceans. Scientists also found clues about big volcanic eruptions from a place called the Yellowstone hotspot. These events help us understand how our planet has changed over time.