International Chronostratigraphic Timescale

The interval definitions in this timescale are derived from the following sources:

  • K. M. Cohen, S.C. Finney, P.L. Gibbard and J.-X. Fan. 2023. The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart v2023/09. view
  • M. O. Woodburne. 1987. A prospectus of the North American Mammal Ages. In: Woodburne, M. O. (ed.), Cenozoic Mammals of North America. University of California Press, Berkelery, CA 285-290 view
  • J. Alroy. 2000. New methods for quantifying macroevolutionary patterns and processes. Paleobiology 26(4):707-733 view
  • W. B. Harland, R. L. Armstrong, A. V. Cox, L. E. Craig, A. G. Smith and D. G. Smith. 1990. A Geologic Time Scale 1989. view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 view
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication view
  • F. F. Steininger, W. A. Berggren, D. V. Kent, R. L. Bernor, S. Sen and J. Agusti. 1996. Circum-Mediterranean Neogene (Miocene and Pliocene) marine-continental chronologic correlations of European mammal units. The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas (eds. R. L. Bernor, V. Fahlbusch, and H.-W. Mittmann) view
  • B. D. Webby. 1998. Steps toward a global standard for Ordovician stratigraphy. Newsletters in Stratigraphy 36:1-33 view
  • A. D. Barnosky, M. Holmes, R. Kirchholtes, E. Lindsey, K.C. Maguire, A.W. Poust, M.A. Stegner, J. Sunseri, B. Swartz, J. Swift, N.A. Villavicencio and G. Wogan. 2014. Prelude to the Anthropocene: Two new North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMAs). The Anthropocene Review I(3):225-242 view

There are 59 timescales which overlap this one. show

Interval boundaries marked with * have been interpolated based on the differences between the ages for international timescale boundaries quoted in the source and the currently accepted ages for those boundaries.

Interval names marked with † are no longer in current use.

This timescale is used in the definition of 126197 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCenozoic SubepochsOrdovician of AustraliaDevonian of Eastern North AmericaCambrian of North AmericaMammal Paleogene ZonesDevonian of FranceCretaceous SubepochsObsolete Names for ICS UnitsEuropean Faunal ZonesOrdovician of BritainNorth American Land Mammal Ages
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianLate Pleistocene0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneTertiary †MN 162.58
MN 153.2
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianEarly MioceneMN 415.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
MN 316.9
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianLate OligoceneMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianEarly OligoceneMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianLate EoceneMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17AChadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
BartonianMiddle EoceneMP 1637.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
YpresianEarly EoceneMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianLate PaleoceneMP 6MP 1 - 556
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianSenonian66
Campanian72.1
Santonian83.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
Cenomanian93.9
Early CretaceousAlbianGallic100.5
Aptian113
Barremian121.4
HauterivianNeocomian125.77
Valanginian132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonian145
Kimmeridgian149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Bathonian165.3
Bajocian168.2
Aalenian170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
Pliensbachian184.2
Sinemurian192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Kasimovian303.7
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianConewangan/Conneautan/CanadawayFamennian358.9
FrasnianWest Fallsian/SonyeanFrasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGeneseean/Taghanican/TioughnioganCazenovianGivetian382.7
EifelianSouthwoodianCouvinien387.7
Early DevonianEmsianSawkillian/Deer ParkianHelderbergian393.3
Pragian407.6
Coblencien408.2 *
LochkovianGedinnine410.8
SilurianPridoli419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianBolindianAshgillHirnantian443.8
KatianRawtheyan445.2
Cautleyan448.9 *
Eastonian449 *
Pusgillian449.3 *
CaradocStreffordianOnnian †449.6 *
Cheneyan451.5 *
Gisbornian452 *
Burrellian452.7 *
Sandbian453
Actonian †453.2 *
Marshbrookian †Woolstonian †454.2 *
Longvillian †455.2 *
Aurelucian456.8 *
Soudleyan †/Harnagian/Costonian457.4 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianDarriwilianLlanvirnLlandeilian/Llandeilo/Late Llandeilo/Middle Llandeilo/Early Llandeilo/Late Llanvirn458.4
Abereiddian/Early Llanvirn461.3 *
DapingianYapeenian467.3
ArenigFennian468.4 *
Castlemainian468.5 *
Early OrdovicianFloianChewtonian470
Whitlandian471.1 *
Bendigonian471.8 *
Lancefieldian473.5 *
Moridunian474.3 *
TremadocianTremadocMigneintian477.7
Cressagian480.8 *
Warendian482.8 *
485 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Franconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianMarjumianAlbertian †Series 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanTopazanStage 5 †504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
Dyeran511 *
Stage 3514
Montezuman514.8 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
538.8