Period K

Cretaceous

143.1000 – 66.0000 Ma

The Cretaceous is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 Ma. 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.

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Cretaceous
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© Scotese, Christopher R.; Vérard, Christian; Burgener, Landon; Elling, Reece P.; Kocsis, Ádám T. · CC BY 4.0
Cretaceous
Cretaceous
Fossil genera 1364
Arthurdactylus
Arthurdactylus
Pterosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Asiatyrannus
Asiatyrannus
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Astigmasaura
Astigmasaura
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Astrophocaudia
Astrophocaudia
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Atacamatitan
Atacamatitan
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Athabascasaurus
Athabascasaurus
Marine reptiles
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Atlascopcosaurus
Atlascopcosaurus
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Atrociraptor
Atrociraptor
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Atsinganosaurus
Atsinganosaurus
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Augustynolophus
Augustynolophus
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Auroraceratops
Auroraceratops
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Aussiedraco
Aussiedraco
Pterosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Australovenator
Australovenator
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Austrocheirus
Austrocheirus
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Austroposeidon
Austroposeidon
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
Austroraptor
Austroraptor
Dinosaurs
Valid Extinct
0 occ.
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News 54
Paleontologists Uncover New Mosasaur Species in Egypt’s Western Desert
Paleontologists Uncover New Mosasaur Species in Egypt’s Western Desert
Paleontologists have described a previously unknown species of mosasaur -- a group of extinct marine reptiles that patrolled Cretaceous seas alongside dinosaurs on land -- based on fossils unearthed in Egypt’s Dakhla Oasis. The post Paleontologists Uncover New Mosasaur Species in Egypt’s Western Desert appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
16/09/2026 sci-news
Spanish Amber Deposit Offers Rare Window into Cretaceous Life
Spanish Amber Deposit Offers Rare Window into Cretaceous Life
El Soplao, a fossil site tucked into the hills of Cantabria in northern Spain, stands out for yielding amber pieces with a blue-violet hue and abundant bioinclusions, according to a new review paper. The post Spanish Amber Deposit Offers Rare Window into Cretaceous Life appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
14/09/2026 sci-news
Muttaburrasaurus: Beast of the Week
Muttaburrasaurus: Beast of the Week
 This week we will be checking out a mysterious plant-eating dinosaur that called what was once Australia home.  Enter Muttaburrasaurus langdoni!Muttaburrasaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur that lived in what is now Northern Australia during the early to middle Cretaceous period, between 103 and 113 million years ago.  From snout to tail it measured about 23 feet (7m) long.  Its name translate to "Muttaburra Reptile/Lizard" in reference to the part of Queensland in Australia where its fossils we
13/09/2026 prehistoricbeastoftheweek
Extraordinary Probable T. rex Trackway Discovered in North Dakota
An extraordinary trace fossil probably a Tyrannosaurus rex trackway has been discovered in North Dakota. It provides a rare glimpse of a giant theropod walking through the Late Cretaceous landscape. The four huge footprints date to approximately 66.5 million years ago (Maastrichtian faunal stage). Scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Liverpool
13/09/2026 everythingdinosaur
115-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossil Recovered from Deep Drill Core in China
115-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossil Recovered from Deep Drill Core in China
Scientists have identified the first dinosaur fossil from a remote western section of the Bayan Gobi Formation in China’s Inner Mongolia, extending the known geographic range of dinosaur fossils in this important Early Cretaceous rock unit. The post 115-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossil Recovered from Deep Drill Core in China appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
07/09/2026 sci-news
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Parent interval
Mesozoic Era
Sub-intervals 2
Early Cretaceous
143.1000 – 100.5000
Late Cretaceous
100.5000 – 66.0000