Carnian

The Carnian is the first stage of the Late Triassic epoch in the International Chronostratigraphic Chart. It spans roughly 237 to 227 million years ago, following the Ladinian and preceding the Norian. The name derives from the Carnia region in northeastern Italy, where rocks of this interval were first studied.

In global stratigraphy, the Carnian is recognized by characteristic fossil assemblages and sedimentary sequences that reflect environmental changes of the time. The period is associated with the Carnian Pluvial Episode, a major climatic shift marked by increased rainfall and humidity that influenced sedimentation and ecosystem dynamics across multiple regions.

Biologically, the Carnian witnessed notable faunal changes and diversification among reptiles, including early dinosaurs and other archosaurs, as well as marine reptiles and various vertebrate groups. Plant communities also shifted, contributing to broader ecological transitions on land.

The Carnian ends with a transition to the Norian, as shifts in climate and life assemblages mark the early Late Triassic boundary in many biostratigraphic schemes. The stage is widely used in global stratigraphy and paleogeographic reconstructions to correlate rocks of similar age and to interpret Triassic life and environments.