In geologic time, the Pliocene Epoch occurs during the Tertiary Period (65 million years ago [mya] to 2.6 mya) of the Cenozoic Era of the Phanerozoic Eon. The Tertiary Period is sometimes divided into—or referred to in terms of—a Paleogene Period (65 mya to 23 mya) and a Neogene Period (23 mya to 2.6 mya). The Pliocene Epoch is the last epoch on the Tertiary Period or, in the alternative, the last epoch in the Neogene Period.

The Pliocene Epoch spans the time 5 mya to 2.6 mya.

The Pliocene Epoch is further subdivided into Zanclian (5 mya to 3.9 mya) and Placenzian (3.9 mya to 2.6 mya) stages.

By the end Pliocene Epoch, Earth's continents assumed their modern configuration. The Pacific Ocean separated Asia and Australia from North America and South America; the Atlantic Ocean separated North and South America from Europe (Eurasian plate) and Africa. The Indian Ocean filled the basin between Africa, India...