The word ‘Cretaceous’ refers to a geological period that lasted from about 145 million to 66 million years ago. It is the final period of the Mesozoic Era, following the Jurassic period and preceding the Paleogene period. The Cretaceous is characterized by the widespread occurrence of flowering plants, the dominance of dinosaurs, and significant geological changes, including the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. The period ended with a mass extinction event that is famously associated with the disappearance of the dinosaurs, marking a significant transition in Earth’s biological and geological history. The term ‘Cretaceous’ is derived from the Latin word ‘creta,’ meaning chalk, as many of the rocks formed during this time are composed of chalk.
