8 million years ago - the drying of Australia
The late Miocene (10.4-5 million years ago)
The late Miocene was a time of global drying and cooling. As ice rapidly accumulated at the poles, sea-levels fell, rainfall decreased and rainforests retreated. Many plant and animal groups died out and other forms, better adapted to a drying world, took their place.
Australian fact file
Animal superstars
Visit a fossil site
- Take a visit to Alcoota, a late Miocene fossil site, and find out why the fossils recovered here are important to the unfolding story of Australia's past.
