Neogene Climate, Terrestrial Mammals and Flora of the Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

Being part of the Oriental Biogeographic Province the fauna and flora of India have evolved under an essentially monsoonal climatic condition during much of the Neogene. The Neogene climate was influenced by several factors that include suturing of the Indian and Asian plates, uplift of the Himalayas, change in the ocean current directions and northern hemisphere glaciations. Overall, the Early Neogene witnessed a warm and humid condition followed by a rather cooler and drier regime during the later stages.