65 million years ago - spectacular end to a spectacular era
Surprising roll of the dice of life
About one-third of animal groups survived the catastrophic events at the end of the Cretaceous. It isn't known exactly why some animals were able to adapt to the changes while others quickly became extinct.
Not all dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago. Birds (photo on left) are now recognised as the living descendants of meat-eating dinosaurs (like the Velociraptor shown in the photo on right).
While the catastrophe at the end of the Cretaceous that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs marked the passing of the 'Age of Reptiles', it ushered in the beginning of the 'Age of Mammals'. Small mammals emerged from the shadow of the dinosaurs to eventually dominate the Earth.
