Natural World
When did the dinosaurs go extinct?
Approximately 66 million BC
Non-avian dinosaurs went extinct approximately 66 million BC.
1 BC · 1 AD
Estimated range: 66.1 million BC to 65.9 million BC
Context
What happened?
The Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction was a global biological crisis associated with the Chicxulub asteroid impact and severe environmental disruption. It eliminated a large share of Earth’s species across land and sea.
Significance
Why it matters
The event ended the age of non-avian dinosaurs and the Cretaceous Period, while birds survived as the living dinosaur lineage. The ecological openings that followed also shaped the later expansion and diversification of mammals.
Further reading
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