This video from the Museum's Florida Fossils exhibit describes the Miocene Epoch, 24 million to 5 million years ago. While much of the Northern Hemisphere was becoming cooler, the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico protected Florida. Still, Florida's climate became increasingly drier and more seasonal, particularly during the late Miocene.

Shallow water marine habitats supported thousands of species of marine animals and plants. Life on land was becoming increasingly more abundant. The spread of grassland savannas with mixed woodlands offered a wide range of plant foods for grazing and browsing mammals. Florida had giant tortoises, giant sloths, elephant-like proboscideans, tapirs, camels, horses, rhinos, and, of course, predators, like bear-dogs and saber-toothed false cats.

Produced, directed and filmed for the Florida Museum of Natural History by Wes C. Skiles/Karst Productions, Inc. Less