The term “Cretaceous” refers to a geological period that lasted from about 145 million to 66 million years ago. It is the last period of the Mesozoic Era, following the Jurassic period and preceding the Paleogene period. The Cretaceous is characterized by the dominance of dinosaurs, the appearance of flowering plants, and significant geological changes, including the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. The period ended with a mass extinction event, widely believed to have been caused by an asteroid impact, which led to the extinction of a large number of species, including most dinosaurs. The name “Cretaceous” is derived from the Latin word “creta,” meaning “chalk,” due to the extensive chalk deposits formed during this period.
