A Late Miocene stage, preceded by the Serravallian, followed by the Messinian, and dated at 11.608–7.246 Ma ago (Int. Commission on Stratigraphy, 2004). It is roughly contemporaneous with part of the Mohnian (California), Waiauan and lower Tongaporutuan (New Zealand), and the lower Mitchellian (Australia). The stratotype is at Tortona, Italy.