Mammal Neogene zones


The Mammal Neogene zones or MN zones are system of biostratigraphic zones in the stratigraphic record used to correlate mammal-bearing fossil localities of the Neogene period of Europe. It consists of seventeen consecutive zones defined through reference faunas, well-known sites that other localities can be correlated with. MN 1 is the earliest zone, and MN 18 is the most recent. The MN zones are complementary with the MP zones in the Paleogene.
The zones are as follows:
IntervalReference LocalityStartEndICS stages
MN 182.0 Ma0 MaGelasian to present
MN 17Saint-Vallier 2.5 Ma2.0 MaGelasian
MN 16Arondelli / Triversa 3.2 Ma2.5 MaGelasian - Piacenzian - Zanclean
MN 15Perpignan 4.2 Ma3.2 MaZanclean
MN 14Podlesice 4.9 Ma4.2 MaZanclean
MN 13El Arquilla 7.0 Ma 4.9 MaZanclean - Messinian
MN 12Los Mansuetos 7.75 Ma 7.0 Ma Messinian - Tortonian
MN 11Crevillente 2 8.7 Ma7.75 Ma Tortonian
MN 10Masia del Barbo 9.7 Ma8.7 MaTortonian
MN 9Can Llobateres 11.1 Ma9.7 MaTortonian
MN 7/8La Grive M 12.75 Ma 11.1 MaTortonian - Serravallian
MN 6Sansan 13.7 Ma12.75 Ma Serravallian
MN 5Faluns Pont Levoy- Thenay 16.0 Ma13.7 MaSerravallian - Langhian - Burdigalian
MN 4La Romieu 16.9 Ma 16.0 MaBurdigalian
MN 3Wintershof-West 20.0 Ma16.9 Ma Burdigalian
MN 2
  • Montaigu
  • Laugnac
22.4 Ma20.0 MaBurdigalian - Aquitanian
MN 1Paulhiac 23.03 ± 0.05 Ma22.4 MaAquitanian