The
Miocene (; symbol M
I) is the first
geological epoch of the
Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Sir
Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words (, “less”) and (, “new”) and means "less recent" because it has 18 ewer modern sea
invertebrates than the
Pliocene. The Miocene follows the
Oligocene Epoch and is followed by the
Pliocene Epoch.