Also Read: Triassic Dinosaurs , Jurassic Dinosaurs.
Read 840+ Cretaceous Dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous (145 to 100.5 million years ago) to Late Cretaceous Period (100.5 to 66 million years ago).
Each entry shows the exact time span, diet, and estimated size.
Click any name to open that species page, where you can read a full description, fossil history, size estimates / Comparisons, and source references.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Uncertain due†‬to lack of remains,†‬but the
holotype is roughly established as having a body length of about†‬3â€
‬meters long.Time Period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Uncertain due to incomplete remains.Time Period: Albian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Piscivore�Size: Skull to sacrum length†= ‬45†‬centimetres.Time Period: Campanian� ‬of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: About†‬11†‬meters long.Time Period: Coniacian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Roughly estimated at about†‬1†‬meter long.Time Period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Impossible to know due to severe lack of
skeletal remains.Time Period: Campanian/Maastrichtian of the
Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Holotype skull reconstructed to be about†‬42â€
‬centimetres long.†‬Total body length estimated at between six and
nine meters long,†‬but this is highly speculative.Time Period: Santonian-Coniacian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: About†‬8†‬meters long,†‬possibly larger.Time Period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Uncertain due to lack of remains,†‬but very
roughly esitmated to be about†‬5.5-6†‬meters long.Time Period: Santonian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Carnivore.Size: At least†‬2†‬meters long.Time Period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Carnivore.Size: Uncertain due to fragmentary nature of
remains,†‬but holotype roughly estimated to have been between nine and
ten meters long.Time Period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Carnivore.Size: Estimated around†‬2.5†‬to†‬3†‬meters long.Time Period: Turonian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Carnivore.Size: Uncertain.Time Period: Aptian of the†‬Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Skull about†‬28†‬centimetres long.†‬Body
length estimated about†‬4†‬meters long.Time Period: Late Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Between†‬2.5†‬and†‬4†‬meters,†‬depending
upon individuals/species.†‬A particularly large specimen attributed to
T.†‬garbanii has been identified as being†‬4.5â€
‬meters long.Time Period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Holotype roughly estimated at somewhere
between†‬5.5†‬and†‬6†‬meters long.Time Period: Santonian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Estimated at†11 to 13†‬meters long.Time Period: Campanian to Maastrichtian of the
Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Holotype estimated about†‬2.5†‬meters long,â€
‬but this is a subadult,†‬and fully grown adults would have been
larger.Time Period: Campanian/Maastrichtian of the
Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Estimated between†‬1.8†‬and†‬2†‬meters
long.Time Period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Unknown due to lack of remains.Time Period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Carnivore.Size: Holotype roughly estimated at about 4 meters
long.Time Period: Cenomanian/Turonian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Around†5 to 6†‬meters long.Time Period: Aptian to Albian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Carnivore.Size: Uncertain due to lack of remains, but holotype
individual roughly estimated to be around 7 meters long.Time Period: Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Uncertain due to incomplete remains.Time Period: Aptian to Albian of the Cretaceous.
Diet: Herbivore.Size: Holotype skull about†‬24†‬centimetres long.â€
‬Preserved length of holotype individual roughly estimated at aboutâ€
‬1.8†‬meters long,†‬but this is missing the end of the tail.†‬Total
length of the holotype individual in life probably somewhere betweenâ€
‬2-2.5†‬meters long.Time Period: Late Albian/Early Cenomanian of the
Cretaceous.
Every Species Mentions its Epoch and Age, For example: Protathlitis Time Period: Barremian age of the Early Cretaceous
The Cretaceous period was the last and longest segment of the Mesozoic Era, lasting from about 145 to 66 million years ago. It was a time of significant evolutionary change, when dinosaurs reached their greatest diversity before their sudden extinction at the end of the period.
- Cretaceous (145 – 66 Mya)
- Early Cretaceous (145 – 100.5 Mya)
- Berriasian (145 – 139.8 Mya)
- Valanginian (139.8 – 132.9 Mya)
- Hauterivian (132.9 – 129.4 Mya)
- Barremian (129.4 – 125.0 Mya)
- Aptian (125.0 – 113.0 Mya)
- Albian (113.0 – 100.5 Mya)
- Late Cretaceous (100.5 – 66 Mya)
- Cenomanian (100.5 – 93.9 Mya)
- Turonian (93.9 – 89.8 Mya)
- Coniacian (89.8 – 86.3 Mya)
- Santonian (86.3 – 83.6 Mya)
- Campanian (83.6 – 72.1 Mya)
- Maastrichtian (72.1 – 66.0 Mya)
For Detailed Time Period Refer to Time Period Page.
Dinosaur Diversity in the Cretaceous Period
Dinosaurs of the Cretaceous included both well-known giants and smaller, specialized forms. Among the carnivores, Tyrannosaurus rex became one of the most powerful predators of its age, while relatives such as Albertosaurus and Gorgosaurus roamed North America.
In Asia, raptors like Velociraptor displayed speed and agility, hunting in environments that were increasingly dry and open. Herbivorous groups flourished as well. The duck-billed hadrosaurs, including Edmontosaurus and Parasaurolophus, developed complex teeth suited for grinding tough plants.
Ceratopsians, such as Triceratops and Styracosaurus, evolved elaborate frills and horns, which may have served both for defense and display.
In the southern continents, titanosaurs became the dominant long-necked sauropods. These massive herbivores, including Argentinosaurus and Dreadnoughtus, were among the largest land animals ever to exist.
At the same time, smaller armoured dinosaurs such as ankylosaurs protected themselves with heavy body coverings and tail clubs. The variety of ecological roles filled by these animals shows how widely dinosaurs adapted during the Cretaceous.
End of Cretaceous
The end of the Cretaceous came abruptly with the mass extinction event 66 million years ago, likely triggered by a large asteroid impact and volcanic activity.
Nearly all non-avian dinosaurs disappeared, marking the close of the Mesozoic Era. Yet their legacy continued in the form of birds, which had already appeared by this time and remain the only living dinosaurs today.
FAQ’s
Which dinosaurs dominated the Cretaceous?
The Cretaceous period was dominated by powerful predators like Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor, along with major herbivores such as Triceratops, Parasaurolophus, and the giant titanosaurs like Argentinosaurus, which were among the largest land animals ever.
Why did most dinosaurs go extinct at the end of the Cretaceous?
A large asteroid impact and extensive volcanism combined to produce rapid environmental changes that caused the mass extinction.
Which was the biggest Cretaceous dinosaur?
The largest known Cretaceous dinosaur was the titanosaur Argentinosaurus, estimated to reach over 30–35 meters (100–115 ft) long and weigh up to 70–100 tons, making it one of the heaviest land animals in history.
