Answer – We are currently in the Cenozoic era of the Phanerozoic eon.
Explanation:
Geologists use what is known as the geologic time scale to organize the history of the Earth. This system involves dividing time into abstract units based on important geological events and the existence/extinction of crucial life forms. In the descending order of duration, the divisions of geologic time are eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages.
The Hadeon eon was the earliest one; it began about 4.6 billion years ago and continued till 4 billion years ago. Then came the Archean and Proterozoic eons. Cut to the present, we are in the Phanerozoic eon, which is marked by the abundance of plant and animal life. This eon started around 541 million years ago and has continued till the present day. It comprises 3 eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.
The latest and current one is the Cenozoic era. It began 66 million years ago and has extended till the present day. Meaning ‘recent life,’ this era is characterized by the dominance of mammals, flowering plants, and birds. It is also often called the ‘Age of Mammals’ because mammals largely occupy both hemispheres of the Earth today.
