Geologic Time Scale: The Mesozoic Era
| Period | Epoch | Age | Dates (m.y.) |
| Cretaceous | Late Cretaceous | Maastrichtian | 70.6-65.5 |
| Campanian | 83.5-70.6 | ||
| Santonian | 85.8-83.5 | ||
| Coniacian | 89.3-85.8 | ||
| Turonian | 93.5-89.3 | ||
| Cenomanian | 99.6-93.5 | ||
| Early Cretaceous | Albian | 112.0-99.6 | |
| Aptian | 125.0-112.0 | ||
| Barremian | 130.0-125.0 | ||
| Hauterivian | 136.4-130.0 | ||
| Valanginian | 140.2-136.4 | ||
| Berriasian | 145.5-140.2 | ||
| Jurassic | Late Jurassic | Tithonian | 150.8-145.5 |
| Kimmeridgian | 155.7-150.8 | ||
| Oxfordian | 161.2-155.7 | ||
| Middle Jurassic | Callovian | 164.7-161.2 | |
| Bathonian | 167.7-164.7 | ||
| Bajocian | 171.6-167.7 | ||
| Aalenian | 175.6-171.6 | ||
| Early Jurassic | Toarcian | 183.0-175.6 | |
| Pliensbachian | 189.6-183.0 | ||
| Sinemurian | 196.5-189.6 | ||
| Hettangian | 199.6-196.5 | ||
| Triassic | Late Triassic | Rhaetian | 203.6-199.6 |
| Norian | 216.5-203.6 | ||
| Carnian | 228.0-216.5 | ||
| Middle Triassic | Ladinian | 237.0-228.0 | |
| Anisian | 245.0-237.0 | ||
| Early Triassic | Olenikian | 249.7-245.0 | |
| Induan | 251.0-249.7 | ||
| Period | Epoch | Age | Dates (m.y.) |
Back to the top-level geologic time scale
This geologic time scale represents the working edge of historical geology, showing the latest names and dates of the smallest divisions of geologic time that are universally recognized. The Mesozoic Era is the second part of the Phanerozoic Eon. For anyone but specialists, the rounded-off dates in the Phanerozoic table are sufficient. Each of these dates also has a specified uncertainty, which you can look up at the source.
The Cretaceous is a curious period. At 80 million years, it is far longer than any other Phanerozoic period, yet it has only two main subdivisions. For that reason, the 12 ages of the Cretaceous are more often used, and more widely known, than any other names of ages—especially among dinosaur enthusiasts.
The dates and colors shown on this geologic time scale were specified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy in 2004.
