Late Cretaceous Period

Geological division within the Cretaceous period.

Late Cretaceous K-Pg boundary

The Late Cretaceous is a geological division within the Cretaceous period, spanning from approximately 86 to 66 million years ago.

Pronunciation

/ˌleɪt kriːˈteɪʃəs ˈpɪriəd/

Etymology

Derived from 'Late' indicating its position within the Cretaceous period, which is named after the Latin word for chalk.

Explain Like I’m 5

The Late Cretaceous was a time about 80 to 66 million years ago when dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex roamed the Earth, and flowering plants became common.

Fun Facts

Flowering plants diversified significantly during this period
Many modern bird groups evolved from dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous
Sea levels were much higher than today, flooding large areas of continents

FAQ

When did the Late Cretaceous period occur? It occurred from approximately 80 to 66 million years ago
What was the climate like? It was generally warm with high sea levels
What major events happened? The period ended with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

Cretaceous Period Mesozoic Era

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

Campanian stage Maastrichtian stage

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

Geologic Time Scale

Indexes

geological formation

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