Silent past: Biogeographic gaps in the Cenozoic fossil archive

This dataset accompanies an analysis of fossil information loss across the Cenozoic and integrates palaeoclimatic reconstructions, lithological sedimentary data, and fossil occurrences. The dataset includes processed climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) derived from the HadCM3 model at 14 geological intervals from 66 to 0 Ma, categorized into Köppen-Geiger climate zones. Lithological data were extracted from a generalized global geological map (Chorlton, 2007) to isolate sedimentary formations with fossil preservation potential. Fossil occurrence records were obtained from the Paleobiology Database (PBDB) as of February 2025. The R script provided merges and analyses these data layers to assess the spatial-temporal overlap between climate zones, sedimentary coverage, and fossil distribution. Outputs include estimates of information loss in the fossil record due to the absence of suitable depositional environments within specific climate zones. This dataset facilitates repr..., , # Data from: Silent past: Biogeographic gaps in the Cenozoic fossil archive

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.34tmpg4wk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.34tmpg4wk)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset was generated as part of the analyses presented in *“Silent Past: Biogeographic Gaps in the Cenozoic Fossil Archive” (Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2025)*. The data compilation integrates paleoclimatic model outputs, sedimentary basin reconstructions, and fossil occurrence data to explore the spatial and environmental representativeness of the Cenozoic fossil record.

Specifically, the dataset combines:

1. **Paleoclimate simulations** (temperature and precipitation) from the PALEOMAP/Scotese reconstructions across 14 time slices (0–66 Ma).
2. **Reconstructed sedimentary polygons**, representing areas with potential fossil preservation for each time interval.
3. **Fossil occurrence data** compiled from the Paleobiology Database (PBDB), spatially rotate...,