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
  • F. J. Prevosti, C. O. Romano, A. M. Forasiepi, S. Hemming, R. Bonini, A. M. Candela, E. Cerdeño, M. C. Madozzo Jaén, P. E. Ortiz, F. Pujos, L. Rasia, G. I. Schmidt, M. Taglioretti, R. D. E. MacPhee, and U. F. J. Pardiñas. 2021. New radiometric 40Ar–39Ar dates and faunistic analyses refine evolutionary dynamics of Neogene vertebrate assemblages in southern South America. Scientific Reports 2021(11):9830 view
  • J. J. Flynn and C. C. Swisher, III. 1995. Cenozoic South American Land Mammal Ages: correlation to global geochronology. Geochronology Time Scales and Global Stratigraphic Correlation, SEPM Special Publication 54:317-333 view
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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. 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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 126138 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesSouth American Land Mammal AgesMammal 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 PleistoceneSheridanianLujanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
Chibanian0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Ensenadan0.3 *
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianVorohueanTertiary †MN 162.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
HuayquerianMN 134.9 *
MioceneMessinian5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
Chasicoan7.9 *
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
Mayoan9.9 *
Laventan10.9 *
MN 7 + 811.1
Serravallian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
Colloncuran13.7 *
LanghianMN 513.82
Friasian15.4 *
BurdigalianMN 415.98
Santacrucian16.2 *
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
MN 316.9
Colhuehuapian17.4 *
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
Deseadan20.9 *
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
Tinguirirican28.9 *
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17AChadronian33.9
Divisaderan35.9 *
Duchesnean37
BartonianMP 1637.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Mustersan41.9 *
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Casamayoran47.9 *
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianRiochicanMP 6MP 1 - 556
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Itaboraian56.9 *
Peligran58.9 *
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Tiupampan62.4 *
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 DevonianFamennianFamennian358.9
FrasnianFrasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGivetian382.7
EifelianCouvinien387.7
Early DevonianEmsian393.3
Pragian407.6
Coblencien408.2 *
LochkovianGedinnine410.8
SilurianPridoli419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianAshgillHirnantian443.8
KatianRawtheyan445.2
Cautleyan448.9 *
Pusgillian449.3 *
CaradocStreffordianOnnian †449.6 *
Cheneyan451.5 *
Burrellian452.7 *
Sandbian453
Actonian †453.2 *
Marshbrookian †Woolstonian †454.2 *
Longvillian †455.2 *
Aurelucian456.8 *
Soudleyan †/Harnagian/Costonian457.4 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianLlanvirnLlandeilian/Llandeilo/Late Llandeilo/Middle Llandeilo/Early Llandeilo/Late Llanvirn458.4
Abereiddian/Early Llanvirn461.3 *
Dapingian467.3
ArenigFennian468.4 *
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Whitlandian471.1 *
Moridunian474.3 *
TremadocianTremadocMigneintian477.7
Cressagian480.8 *
485 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
509