The Pliocene EPOCH is a geological EPOCH that lasted from 5.333 million to 2.58 million years ago. It is part of the Neogene Period and is preceded by the Miocene EPOCH and followed by the Pleistocene EPOCH. During this time, the global climate cooled considerably and many species of mammals evolved. The Pliocene EPOCH is also known for its significant changes in sea level, which had a major impact on the distribution of land and water.