Cretaceous Period

The Cretaceous period was the last and longest period of the dinosaur era, ending with the famous mass extinction that killed all non-avian dinosaurs.

This period produced some of the most iconic dinosaurs: Tyrannosaurus Rex (the apex predator with massive jaws), Triceratops (the three-horned herbivore), Velociraptor (the feathered, intelligent hunter), and Spinosaurus (the semi-aquatic, sail-backed giant). In the seas, Mosasaurs replaced ichthyosaurs as top marine predators.

A botanical revolution also occurred—the first flowering plants (angiosperms) appeared and rapidly diversified, transforming terrestrial ecosystems and co-evolving with pollinators.

The period ended catastrophically with the K-Pg extinction event, caused by an asteroid impact at Chicxulub and massive volcanic eruptions (Deccan Traps). All non-avian dinosaurs went extinct, along with roughly 75% of all species—but this opened the door for mammal dominance.

The Cretaceous ended an era but began a new chapter—the Age of Mammals and ultimately, the rise of humanity.