Cretaceous
Jurassic ← Cretaceous | Last Ice Age
Prehistoric eras: Precambrian • Carboniferous • Permian • Jurassic • Cretaceous
1900-1939: 1908 • 1912 • 1915 • 1918 • 1920 • 1926 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1938
'50s: 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959
'70s: 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979
The Cretaceous is a geologic period of Earth's history spanning 80 million years from the end of the Jurassic Period 143.1 million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Paleogene 66 Mya. It was the final period of the Mesozoic Era.
In the real world
- Dinosaurs and other reptilian animals rule the planet. The supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana break up into the present day continents, and many of Earth's major landmasses are in similar positions to the present day.
- Some of the most famous species of dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops, roam the Earth. Famous pterosaurs such as Pteranodon soar the skies.
- The first flowering plants appear in this period, and are the dominant plant life by its end, a trend that continues to this day.
- A massive asteroid or comet strikes the Earth 66 Mya, causing the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event and killing an estimated 75% or more of all life on the planet, including all non-avian dinosaurs. The extinction event makes way for the Cenozoic Era, during which mammals rise to become the dominant form of life. Three other forms of terrestrial vertebrate and one form of aquatic vertebrate also survive the extinction event: fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
- The Deccan traps in India begin erupting around 300,000 years before the impact, and remain active for a further 700,000 years, creating a large igneous province.
In fiction
- 136,000,000 years ago
- Godzilla and numerous other kaiju inhabit the Earth. The planet is invaded by Xiliens, whose monster Keizer Ghidorah attacks Godzilla and Anguirus. The aliens set free a pair of archaic humans in an attempt to populate the planet, but both are incinerated in magma brought forth by Godzilla. (Godzilla: Rage Across Time #5)
- 130,000,000 years ago
- Cretaceous King Ghidorah lands on Earth and begins to kill dinosaurs. Rainbow Mothra arrives, having traveled back in time from the year 1998, to fight Ghidorah in a younger, weaker form. The two battle, and Leo eventually severs one of Ghidorah's tails, which digs itself into the ground to regenerate. Leo eventually grabs the young King of Terror and drops it into an erupting volcano, killing it. Leo then lands on the ground, badly burned and seriously injured. However, three Primitive Mothra Larvae arrive and cover Leo in silk to protect and preserve him through the ages. (Rebirth of Mothra 3)
- 65,000,000 years ago
- An asteroid hits the Earth, killing much of the planet's life. The population of the dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures is reduced, but many species do not surrender to extinction. Across the planet, many small populations of such species as plesiosaurs, pterosaurs, and even some dinosaurs (including Ankylosaurus and a theropod genus known as "Godzillasaurus") continue to survive and breed.
- The three-headed space monster Desghidorah arrives on Earth and begins to absorb the life energy from the planet. The dominant race of the world, small humanoids called the Elias, attempt to fight back alongside a race of giant moths called Mothras. Eventually, Desghidorah is defeated and sealed inside the Earth, but the Elias are left all but extinct, and only one Mothra remains alive. (Rebirth of Mothra)
- The Leviathan Aliens' ship crash-lands on Earth. They keep the Reptilians and Cryptocledius, the former of which were selectively bred from Cretaceous fauna, to aid them before sending out a distress beacon and going dormant. (Godzilla: The Series, "Leviathan")
- An alien spacecraft crashes into the sea. Its crew, squid-like creatures called Millennians, remain trapped within, unable to operate the ship without light from the Sun. (Godzilla 2000: Millennium)
Gallery
The Cretaceous environment (Rebirth of Mothra 3)
The Cretaceous environment
A T. rex and Triceratops
Desghidorah traversing through outer space (Rebirth of Mothra Super Complete Works)
Desghidorah wiping out civilization on Mars
Desghidorah fighting dinosaurs resembling Gorosaurus, Anguirus, Gomora and a Rodan-like pterosaur. A silhouette resembling the head of Kingsaurus III is in the background.
Desghidorah eradicating the dinosaurs
Desghidorah being defeated by Mothras
Trivia
- Multiple pieces of fiction place the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event at 65 million years ago, which was likely based on estimates prevalent at the time that those media were made. More recent studies indicate that it would have occurred closer to 66 million years ago. Consequently, a setting of 65 million years ago would inadvertently place those events in the Early Paleogene rather than the Late Cretaceous.
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