Large dinosaurs dominated the landscape. The firstfloweringplantsappeared.Insectsdiversifieddramatically. Pollinating insects such as bees appeared:anexampleofcoevolution.

GondwanaseparatedintoWestGondwana (currentdaySouthAmerica,Africa,MadagascarandIndia)andEastGondwana(currentdayAustraliaandAntarctica).australia began to separate from antarcticaandcommenceitsjourneynorthwards.

Attheendofthisperiod,theEarth’s 5th and most recent major mass extinctionoccurred:75%ofallspeciesvanished,includingthedinosaurs.Atthis time, a large meteorite hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula,andtherewerehugevolcaniceruptionsinIndia.Thereisstilldebateabouttheroleofthese events in the mass extinction event.

CretaceousPeriodrocksfromWintonincentralQueensland containthousandsofpreserveddinosaurfootprintsthoughtto have been created during a dinosaur stampede.

CrETaCEous PEriod (145 .5 -65 .5 Ma)

Footprints of the dinosaur stampede that occurred in Winton, Queensland during the Cretaceous Period.

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Cretaceous aged rocks 0 500 km

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Cretaceous aged rocks 0 500 km

Cretaceous rocks and resources in australia

Natural resources found in Cretaceous age rocks include oil, gas, nickel, cobalt and opals.

Cretaceous Timescale

10cm