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The 'Toarcian Stage' was the last faunal stage of the Early Jurassic period. It is usually used to cover the period from 183 Ma to 175 Ma (million years ago).
The Toarcian stage began with the Toarcian turnover, the extinction event that set it apart from the previous Pliensbachian stage. The Toarcian takes its name from the town of Thouars, just south of Saumur in the Loire Valley of France.
In Europe this period is also known as the 'Upper Lias Stage'.