PBDB Timescale

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
K. M. Cohen, S.C. Finney, P.L. Gibbard and J.-X. Fan. 2023. The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart v2023/09. 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. 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

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 13391 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic Timescale			Cenozoic Subepochs	Obsolete Names for ICS Units	European Faunal Zones	South American Land Mammal Ages
Quaternary	Holocene	Meghalayan						0
		Northgrippian						0.0042
		Greenlandian						0.0082
	Pleistocene	Late Pleistocene	Late Pleistocene			Lujanian		0.0117
		Chibanian	Middle Pleistocene			Lujanian		0.129
		Chibanian	Middle Pleistocene			Ensenadan		0.3 *
		Calabrian	Early Pleistocene			Ensenadan		0.774
		Calabrian				Sanandresian	Uquian †	1.7 *
		Gelasian			MN 17	Sanandresian		1.8
Neogene	Pliocene	Piacenzian	Late Pliocene	Tertiary †	MN 16	Vorohuean		2.58
					MN 16	Chapadmalalan		2.9 *
					MN 15			3.2
		Zanclean	Early Pliocene					3.6
						Montehermosan		3.7 *
					MN 14	Montehermosan		4.2
					MN 13	Huayquerian		4.9 *
	Miocene	Messinian	Late Miocene		MN 13			5.333
		Tortonian			MN 12			7.246
					MN 11			7.75
					MN 11	Chasicoan		7.9 *
					MN 10			8.7
					MN 9			9.7
						Mayoan		9.9 *
						Laventan		10.9 *
					MN 7 + 8			11.1
		Serravallian	Middle Miocene		MN 7 + 8			11.63
					MN 6			12.8 *
					MN 6	Colloncuran		13.7 *
		Langhian			MN 5	Colloncuran		13.82
		Langhian			MN 5	Friasian		15.4 *
		Burdigalian	Early Miocene		MN 4	Friasian		15.98
					MN 4	Santacrucian		16.2 *
					MN 3	Santacrucian		16.9
					MN 3	Colhuehuapian		17.4 *
					MN 2			20
		Aquitanian						20.44
						Deseadan		20.9 *
					MN 1			22.4
Paleogene	Oligocene	Chattian	Late Oligocene					23.03
		Rupelian	Early Oligocene					27.82
		Rupelian	Early Oligocene			Tinguirirican		28.9 *
	Eocene	Priabonian	Late Eocene			Tinguirirican		33.9
		Priabonian	Late Eocene			Divisaderan		35.9 *
		Bartonian	Middle Eocene					37.71
		Lutetian						41.2
		Lutetian				Mustersan		41.9 *
		Ypresian	Early Eocene			Mustersan		47.8
		Ypresian	Early Eocene			Casamayoran		47.9 *
	Paleocene	Thanetian	Late Paleocene			Riochican		56
						Itaboraian		56.9 *
						Peligran		58.9 *
		Selandian	Middle Paleocene					59.2
		Danian	Early Paleocene					61.6
		Danian	Early Paleocene			Tiupampan		62.4 *
								66