Eupatagus Echinoid – Pleistocene, USA

Pleistocene Information

The Pleistocene Epoch (2.58 million – 11,700 years ago) was a time of repeated ice ages, shaping Earth's landscapes and ecosystems. Massive glaciers advanced and retreated, covering large parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. This period saw the rise of megafauna, including woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, and cave bears. Early humans (Homo erectus, Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens) spread across the world, developing tools, art, and early societies. Many species adapted to harsh, cold climates, but as the Ice Age ended, global warming and human hunting contributed to the extinction of many large mammals. The Pleistocene transitions into the Holocene, the current epoch, marking the beginning of human civilization.