What major climatic shift characterized the Oligocene epoch following the Eocene?
Answer
It became generally cooler and drier globally
The Oligocene epoch represents a significant turning point in global climate history, marking a departure from the consistently warm conditions that prevailed during the preceding Eocene epoch. As Arsinoitherium was transitioning between these periods, the prevailing environmental trend involved global temperatures cooling down and overall atmospheric moisture decreasing, leading to drier conditions across many regions. The ability of a massive herbivore like Arsinoitherium to thrive and remain the dominant megafaunal size under these shifting conditions speaks to its excellent adaptation to the available, possibly lower-nutrient, flora present during this cooler, drier climate phase.
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