Rodents, marsupials, and hoofed animals first appeared in North America during the _______ period that followed a mass extinction and presented new evolutionary opportunities for mammals.

Question

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The Tertiary period, also known as the Age of Mammals, followed a mass extinction event that ended the reign of the dinosaurs. This period saw the emergence of new mammalian groups such as rodents, marsupials, and hoofed animals in North America, presenting new evolutionary opportunities for these animals. The Permian, Triassic, and Devonian periods all predate the emergence of these groups in North America. The Cretaceous period, on the other hand, saw the dinosaurs dominate and mammals remain relatively small and insignificant.

Rodents, Marsupials, and Hoofed Animals First Appeared in North America