A Late Triassic stage, preceded by the Norian, followed by the Hettangian (Lias) and dated at 203.6–199.6 Ma ago (Int. Commission on Stratigraphy, 2004). It is roughly contemporaneous with the Erchiao (China) and Warepan (New Zealand). Some authors have placed the Rhaetian in the Jurassic. Others have questioned its status as a stage, suggesting that it should be a biostratigraphic zone within the underlying Norian.