What dinosaurs lived in the Early Cretaceous?

Spinosaurus, Iguanodon, Baryonyx, Microraptor, Psittacosaurus, and Deinonychus all lived during the Early Cretaceous. It was an incredibly diverse period.

When did flowering plants appear?

Flowering plants began appearing in the Early Cretaceous, around 130 million years ago. By the Late Cretaceous they were widespread, and by the time of the extinction they dominated many ecosystems.

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Early Cretaceous Period

145-100 million years ago

The Early Cretaceous was a time of tremendous change. The continents were splitting further apart, flowering plants were beginning their global takeover, and an extraordinary diversity of dinosaurs was evolving. Some of the most spectacular feathered dinosaur fossils come from this period, found in China's Yixian Formation.

Fun Facts

✓The Yixian Formation in China has produced hundreds of feathered dinosaur fossils from the Early Cretaceous.
✓Spinosaurus, possibly the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever, lived during the Early Cretaceous.
✓Iguanodon, one of the first dinosaurs ever described by science, was an Early Cretaceous herbivore.
✓The Early Cretaceous saw the first diversification of flowering plants, called angiosperms.
✓Psittacosaurus, one of the most abundant dinosaur fossils ever found, lived in the Early Cretaceous.

Questions About the Early Cretaceous

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Early Cretaceous Period

Fun Facts

Questions About the Early Cretaceous

Dinosaurs of the Early Cretaceous Period

Other Prehistoric Periods