Late Cretaceous

dinosaurs · geology · ancient Earth

Dinosaur kingdom's end. The Late Cretaceous was when the most famous dinosaurs like Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex roamed Earth, right up until a giant asteroid crash ended the age of dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

Chalk everywhere. The name Cretaceous comes from creta, which is Latin for chalk. The white cliffs of England and the chalk beds of France were laid down during this time period, which is why we can still see them today.

Continents shifting. During the Late Cretaceous, the continents were still moving into positions closer to where they are now. Oceans flooded vast areas of land, creating shallow seas where marine reptiles swam.

Small survivors. While giant dinosaurs ruled above ground, smaller creatures like early mammals, birds, and insects were quietly evolving in the shadows, preparing to take over after the dinosaurs vanished.