Carnian
![Alluvial plain red clays of the Travenanzes formation, upper Carnian, the Dolomites, northern Italy](/Images/godic/202501/03/Travenanzes4102.jpg")
![Brotheotrachyceras brotheus from the San Cassiano Formation, Val Badia, Dolomites, Southern Alps. This ammonoid is an index fossil for the lower Carnian](/Images/godic/202501/03/Trachyceras_Brotheotrachyceras_brotheus4103.jpg")
![Cyclotosaurus](/Images/godic/202501/03/CyclotosaurusDB24103.jpg")
![Metoposaurus](/Images/godic/202501/03/Metoposaurus_BW4103.jpg")
The Carnian (less commonly, Karnian) is the lowermost stage of the Upper Triassic series (or earliest age of the Late Triassic epoch). It lasted from 237 to 228.4 million years ago (Ma). The Carnian is preceded by the Ladinian and is followed by the Norian. Its boundaries are not characterized by major extinctions or biotic turnovers, but a climatic event (known as the Carnian Pluvial Event) occurred during the Carnian and seems to be associated with important extinctions or biotic radiations.