Cretaceous Period
145–66 Million Years Ago
The longest period of the Mesozoic, the Cretaceous saw dinosaurs reach their peak diversity. Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor are among its most iconic inhabitants. Flowering plants (angiosperms) appeared and rapidly diversified, transforming terrestrial ecosystems. The period ended 66 million years ago when the Chicxulub asteroid impact triggered the K–Pg mass extinction.
Environment
Climate & Environment
One of the warmest periods in Earth's history. Sea levels were at their highest, flooding large portions of continents. No permanent polar ice existed for most of the period.
Fauna & Flora
Signature Life Forms
Tyrannosaurus rex — iconic apex predator
Triceratops and other ceratopsians
Rise of flowering plants (angiosperms)
Mosasaurs — giant marine lizards
Collection
Cretaceous Period Specimens (129)
Acrocanthosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Albertonectes
cretaceous
mesozoic
Albertosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Amargasaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Ammonite (Placenticeras)
cretaceous
mesozoic
Anhanguera
cretaceous
mesozoic
Ankylosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Araripesaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Archaefructus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Archelon
cretaceous
mesozoic
Argentinosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Baculites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Baryonyx
cretaceous
mesozoic
Basilemys
cretaceous
mesozoic
Belemnitella
cretaceous
mesozoic
Borealopelta
cretaceous
mesozoic
Carcharodontosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Carnotaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Caulkicephalus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Centrosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Chasmosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Citipati
cretaceous
mesozoic
Confuciusornis
cretaceous
mesozoic
Corythosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Cretoxyrhina
cretaceous
mesozoic
Dakota the Edmontosaurus Mummy
cretaceous
mesozoic
Daspletosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Deinonychus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Deinosuchus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Douvilleiceras
cretaceous
mesozoic
Dreadnoughtus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Dsungaripterus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Edmontosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Einiosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Elasmosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Enchodus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Euoplocephalus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Exogyra
cretaceous
mesozoic
Fighting Dinosaurs Specimen
cretaceous
mesozoic
Gallimimus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Giganotosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Globidens
cretaceous
mesozoic
Gorgosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hadrosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hamites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hatzegopteryx
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hesperornis
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hippurites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hoplites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hypacrosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Hypsilophodon
cretaceous
mesozoic
Ichthyornis
cretaceous
mesozoic
Iguanodon
cretaceous
mesozoic
Inoceramus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Kosmoceratops
cretaceous
mesozoic
Kronosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Lambeosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Leonardo (JRF 115H)
cretaceous
mesozoic
Leptoceratops
cretaceous
mesozoic
Maiasaura
cretaceous
mesozoic
Majungasaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Mapusaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Mawsonia
cretaceous
mesozoic
Microraptor
cretaceous
mesozoic
Minmi
cretaceous
mesozoic
Mononykus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Mosasaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Muttaburrasaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Neohibolites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Nigersaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Nipponites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Nodosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Nothronychus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Nyctosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Ornithomimus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Ouranosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Oviraptor
cretaceous
mesozoic
Oviraptor Egg Nest
cretaceous
mesozoic
Pachycephalosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Pachyrhinosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Parasaurolophus
cretaceous
mesozoic
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Patagotitan mayorum (Femur)
cretaceous
mesozoic
Pentaceratops
cretaceous
mesozoic
Platecarpus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Prognathodon
cretaceous
mesozoic
Protoceratops
cretaceous
mesozoic
Psittacosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Pteranodon
cretaceous
mesozoic
Pterodaustro
cretaceous
mesozoic
Quetzalcoatlus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Radiolites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Requienia
cretaceous
mesozoic
Rugops
cretaceous
mesozoic
Saltasaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Sarcosuchus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Saurolophus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Sauropelta
cretaceous
mesozoic
Scaphites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Scotty the T. rex (RSM P2523.8)
cretaceous
mesozoic
Sinosauropteryx
cretaceous
mesozoic
Spinosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Stan the T. rex (BHI 3033)
cretaceous
mesozoic
Struthiomimus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Styracosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Styxosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Suchomimus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Sue the T. rex (FMNH PR 2081)
cretaceous
mesozoic
T. rex Coprolite
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tapejara
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tarbosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tempskya
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tenontosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Thalassomedon
cretaceous
mesozoic
Therizinosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Torosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Triceratops
cretaceous
mesozoic
Trix the T. rex (RGM 792.000)
cretaceous
mesozoic
Troodon
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tropeognathus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tsintaosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tupuxuara
cretaceous
mesozoic
Turrilites
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tylosaurus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Tyrannosaurus rex
cretaceous
mesozoic
Utahraptor
cretaceous
mesozoic
Velociraptor
cretaceous
mesozoic
Xiphactinus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Yutyrannus
cretaceous
mesozoic
Zuul
cretaceous
mesozoic