Maastrichtian (geological period)

The Maastrichtian is the last stage of the Cretaceous period, and therefore of the Mesozoic era. It spanned from 70.6 ± 0.6 Ma to 65.5 ± 0.3 Ma (million years ago). The Maastrichtian Stage was preceded by the Campanian Stage and succeeded by the Danian Stage of the Paleogene Period. The Maastrichtian is named after the Dutch city Maastricht, where many fossils from the period—most notably those of the mosasaur—were discovered.

At the end of this period, there was a mass extinction commonly referred to as the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event (or K/T). At this extinction event, many commonly recognized groups such as non-avian dinosaurs, plesiosaurs and mosasaurs, as well as many other lesser known groups, died out.