In geologic time, the Permian Period, the last period of the Paleozoic Era, covers the time roughly 286 million years ago (mya) until 245 mya.

The Permian Period spans two epochs. The Early Permian Epoch is the most ancient, followed by the Late Permian Epoch.

The Early Permian Epoch is divided chronologically (from the most ancient to the most recent) into the Asselian, Sakmarian, and Artinskian stages. The Late Permian Epoch is divided chronologically (from the most ancient to the most recent) into the Kungurian, Kazanian, and Tatarian stages.

In terms of paleogeography (the study of the evolution of the continents from supercontinents and the establishment of geologic features), the Permian Period was dominated by the movements of the supercontinent Pangaea, that during the Permian Period was located along the equator. Plate tectonic activity along the western border of Pangaea formed an extensive subduction zone that survives today...