Cenozoic Subepochs

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

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 13 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 13344 collections

Show less time

Show linear time

International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleCenozoic SubepochsMammal Paleogene ZonesEuropean Faunal ZonesNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesSouth American Land Mammal AgesNorth American Land Mammal Ages
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianLujanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Ensenadan0.3 *
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneMN 16Vorohuean2.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
MN 153.2
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MN 13Huayquerian4.9 *
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
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
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
Colloncuran13.7 *
LanghianMN 513.82
Friasian15.4 *
BurdigalianEarly MioceneMN 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
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
Tinguirirican28.9 *
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate EoceneMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17ALate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianChadronian33.9
Divisaderan35.9 *
Duchesnean37
BartonianMiddle EoceneMP 1637.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Mustersan41.9 *
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
YpresianEarly EoceneMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Casamayoran47.9 *
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianLate PaleoceneMP 6MP 1 - 5Riochican56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Itaboraian56.9 *
Peligran58.9 *
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Tiupampan62.4 *
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
66