Middle Miocene

The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene.

System/ Period	Series/ Epoch	Stage/ Age	Age (Ma)
Quaternary	Pleistocene	Gelasian	younger
Neogene	Pliocene	Piacenzian	2.58	3.600
		Zanclean	3.600	5.333
	Miocene	Messinian	5.333	7.246
		Tortonian	7.246	11.63
		Serravallian	11.63	13.82
		Langhian	13.82	15.97
		Burdigalian	15.97	20.44
		Aquitanian	20.44	23.03
Paleogene	Oligocene	Chattian	older
Subdivision of the Neogene Period according to the ICS, as of 2017[1]

The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago) to 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma. During this period, a sharp drop in global temperatures took place. This event is known as the Middle Miocene Climatic Transition.

For the purpose of establishing European land mammal ages, this sub-epoch is equivalent to the Astaracian age.