The Cretaceous period

About the Cretaceous

The Cretaceous (IPA: krih-TAY-shəss) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 Ma (million years ago). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ninth and longest geological period of the entire Phanerozoic. The name is derived from the Latin creta, 'chalk', which is abundant in deposits from the latter half of the period. It is usually abbreviated K, for its German translation Kreide.

The Cretaceous was a period with a relatively warm climate, resulting in high eustatic sea levels that created numerous shallow inland seas. These oceans and seas were populated with now-extinct marine reptiles, ammonites and rudists; while on land, dinosaurs continued to dominate. The world was largely ice-free – although there is some evidence of brief periods of glaciation during the cooler first half – and forests extended to the poles.

Featured animals of the Cretaceous (102)

Tyrannosaurus83.6–66 MaArchaeopteryx149.2–121.4 MaVelociraptor89.8–66 MaStegosaurus161.5–93.9 MaSpinosaurus125.77–72.2 MaAllosaurus161.5–137.05 MaIguanodon154.8–66 MaAnkylosaurus83.6–66 MaPteranodon89.8–72.2 MaAlbertosaurus85.7–66 MaPterodactylus201.4–132.6 MaGiganotosaurus113.2–106.3 MaDeinonychus143.1–93.9 MaPachycephalosaurus83.6–66 MaEdmontosaurus89.8–66 MaQuetzalcoatlus72.2–66 MaAcrocanthosaurus121.4–93.9 MaBaryonyx139.1–110.1 MaTarbosaurus89.8–66 MaMegalosaurus205.7–66 MaMicroraptor121.4–113.2 MaMosasaurus100.5–61.66 MaGallimimus93.9–66 MaGorgosaurus83.6–66 MaOrnithomimus83.6–66 MaLambeosaurus83.6–72.2 MaIchthyosaurus227.3–100.5 MaDaspletosaurus83.6–66 MaHesperornis89.8–66 MaDeinosuchus83.6–72.2 MaDeinocheirus100.5–66 MaSaurolophus83.6–66 MaSuchomimus121.4–100.5 MaDromaeosaurus110.1–66 MaCentrosaurus83.6–66 MaUtahraptor137.05–132.6 MaShantungosaurus100.5–66 MaConfuciusornis125.77–113.2 MaMajungasaurus72.2–66 MaMapusaurus110.1–106.3 MaSaltasaurus72.2–66 MaChasmosaurus83.6–72.2 MaHatzegopteryx72.2–66 MaIchthyornis100.5–72.2 MaHadrosaurus85.7–66 MaTapejara119.57–113.2 MaNodosaurus100.5–66 MaOphthalmosaurus201.4–132.6 MaRepenomamus125.77–119.57 MaPterodaustro121.4–100.5 MaPliosaurus165.3–66 MaPatagotitan113.2–100.5 MaCarnotaurus72.2–66 MaYutyrannus125.77–119.57 MaOviraptor89.8–72.2 MaTherizinosaurus72.2–66 MaTroodon83.6–66 MaStruthiomimus83.6–66 MaCarcharodontosaurus143.1–72.2 MaSinosauropteryx125.77–119.57 MaArgentinosaurus110.1–106.3 MaDreadnoughtus83.6–72.2 MaMamenchisaurus168.2–113.2 MaAmargasaurus125.77–121.4 MaNigersaurus121.4–100.5 MaSauroposeidon121.4–93.9 MaAlamosaurus83.6–66 MaEuoplocephalus83.6–66 MaBorealopelta121.4–113.2 MaEdmontonia83.6–66 MaGastonia137.05–100.5 MaTriceratops83.6–66 MaProtoceratops121.4–72.2 MaStyracosaurus83.6–72.2 MaPentaceratops83.6–66 MaPsittacosaurus137.05–100.5 MaTorosaurus83.6–66 MaKosmoceratops83.6–72.2 MaEiniosaurus83.6–72.2 MaParasaurolophus83.6–72.2 MaMaiasaura83.6–72.2 MaCorythosaurus83.6–72.2 MaHypsilophodon154.8–119.57 MaOuranosaurus121.4–66 MaMuttaburrasaurus106.3–93.9 MaLeaellynasaura113.2–110.1 MaTenontosaurus121.4–93.9 MaTupandactylus119.57–113.2 MaDsungaripterus137.05–121.4 MaPlesiosaurus205.7–66 MaElasmosaurus93.9–72.2 MaLiopleurodon165.3–137.05 MaKronosaurus121.4–100.5 MaTylosaurus93.9–66 MaPrognathodon100.5–61.66 MaPlatecarpus100.5–66 MaSarcosuchus137.05–93.9 MaAcanthostega443.1 Ma to the presentEomaia125.77–119.57 MaOtodus93.9–0.34 MaBaculites137.05–56 MaParapuzosia100.5–72.2 Ma

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Cretaceous (revision 1373977705), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim. Ages and colours: ICS chart (v2024/12) via the Paleobiology Database.