major division of Miocene rocks and time on the Pacific coast of North America (the Miocene epoch began 23.7 million years ago and ended 5.3 million years ago). The Relizian Stage, which overlies the Saucesian Stage and precedes the Luisian Stage, was named for exposures studied in Reliz Canyon in California. Two subdivisions, or zones, within the Relizian are recognized, representing shorter spans of time and characterized by the presence of distinctive foraminiferan microfossils. The Relizian Stage is correlated with the Burdigalian Stage recognized in Europe and elsewhere.