Cisuralian

EtymologyName formalityFormalSynonym(s)Early/Lower Permian
Usage informationCelestial bodyEarthRegional usageGlobal (ICS)Time scale(s) usedICS Time ScaleDefinitionChronological unitEpochStratigraphic unitSeriesTime span formalityFormalLower boundary definitionFAD of the conodontStreptognathodus isolatus within the morphotypeStreptognathodus wabaunsensis chronoclineLower boundary GSSPAidaralash, Ural Mountains, Kazakhstan
50°14′45″N57°53′29″E / 50.2458°N 57.8914°E / 50.2458; 57.8914Lower GSSP ratified1996Upper boundary definitionFAD of the Conodont Jinogondolella nanginkensisUpper boundary GSSP, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas, United States
31°52′36″N104°52′36″W / 31.8767°N 104.8768°W / 31.8767; -104.8768Upper GSSP ratified2001

The Cisuralian, also known as the Early Permian, is the first series/epoch of the Permian. The Cisuralian was preceded by the Pennsylvanian and followed by the Guadalupian. The Cisuralian Epoch is named after the western slopes of the Ural Mountains in Russia and Kazakhstan and dates between 298.9 ± 0.15 – 274.4 ± 0.4 Ma.

In the regional stratigraphy of southwestern North America, the Cisuralian encompasses two series: the Wolfcampian (Asselian to mid-Artinskian) and Leonardian (mid-Artinskian to Kungurian).

The series saw the appearance of beetles and flies and was a relatively stable warming period of about 21 million years.