Maastrichtian life

The Maastrichtian ( ) is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) geologic timescale, the latest age (uppermost stage) of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series, the Cretaceous Period or System, and of the Mesozoic Era or Erathem. It spanned the interval from . The Maastrichtian was preceded by the Campanian and succeeded by the Danian (part of the Paleogene and Paleocene). It is named after the city of Maastricht, the capital and largest city of the Limburg province in the Netherlands.

Hatzegopteryx ("Hațeg basin wing") is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur found in the late Maastrichtian deposits of the Densuș-Ciula Formation, an outcropping in Transylvania, Romania. It is known only from the type species, Hatzegopteryx thambema, named by paleontologists Eric Buffetaut, Dan Grigorescu, and Zoltan Csiki in 2002 based on parts of the skull and humerus. Additional specimens, including a neck vertebra, were later placed in the genus, representing a range of sizes. The largest of these remains indicate it was among the biggest pterosaurs, with an estimated wingspan of .

Beelzebufo ( or ) (meaning "devil toad") is an extinct genus of hyloid frog from the Late Cretaceous Berivotra and Maevarano Formations, approximately 70 million years ago in what is now Madagascar. The type species is B. ampinga, and common names assigned by the popular media to it include devil frog, devil toad, and the frog from hell.

Simosuchus is an extinct genus of notosuchian crocodyliforms from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. It is named for its unusually short skull. Fully grown individuals were about in length. The type species is Simosuchus clarki, found from the Maevarano Formation in Mahajanga Province, although one isolated multicuspid tooth of this genus was discovered in Kallamedu Formation of India.

Allodaposuchus is an extinct genus of crocodyliforms that lived in what is now southern Europe during the Campanian and Maastrichtian stages, and possibly the Santonian stage, of the Late Cretaceous. Although generally classified as a non-crocodylian eusuchian crocodylomorph, it is sometimes placed as one of the earliest true crocodylians. Allodaposuchus is one of the most common Late Cretaceous crocodylomorphs from Europe, with fossils known from Romania, Spain, and France.

Armadillosuchus is an extinct genus of sphagesaurid crocodylomorph. It was described in February 2009 from the late Campanian to early Maastrichtian Adamantina Formation of the Bauru Basin in Brazil, dating to approximately 70 Ma. Armadillosuchus was among the larger and more robust sphagesaurids, with a total length of approximately .

Mahajangasuchus is an extinct genus of crocodyliform which had blunt, laterally compressed and serrated teeth. The type species, M. insignis, lived during the Late Cretaceous; its fossils have been found in the Maevarano Formation in northern Madagascar. It was a fairly large predator, measuring up to long.

Aristonectes (meaning "best swimmer") is an extinct genus of large elasmosaurid plesiosaurs that lived during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Two species are known, A. parvidens and A. quiriquinensis, whose fossil remains were discovered in what are now Patagonia and Antarctica. Throughout the 20th century, Aristonectes was a difficult animal for scientists to analyze due to poor fossil preparation, its relationships to other genera were uncertain. After subsequent revisions and discoveries carried out from the beginning of the 21st century, Aristonectes is now recognised as th

Ginglymostoma (from the Ancient Greek words γίγγλυμος (gínglumos), meaning "hinge", and στόμα (stóma), meaning "mouth") is a genus of shark in the family Ginglymostomatidae. There are two members in the genus. Members of this genus eat small fish and crustaceans, and are commonly quite lethargic unless provoked. Members of this genus have the ability to suck in water in order to remove snails from their shells in a manner that can be described as 'vacuum-like'.

Eurazhdarcho is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Romania, about 69 million years ago. Starting in 2009, pterosaur fossil remains were unearthed in a layer of the Sebeș Formation in Lancrăm, southwestern Transylvania by paleontologist Mátyás Vremir. In 2013, he, along with paleontologists Alexander Kellner, Darren Naish, and Gareth Dyke would name the new genus and type species Eurazhdarcho langendorfensis. Its generic name is a combination of Europe and the genus Azhdarcho, while its specific name is in referen

Sulcusuchus is a genus of polycotylid plesiosaur from the Maastrichtian of Argentina.

Cardiocorax is an extinct genus of elasmosaurid known from the Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian stage) Mocuio Formation of Namibe Province, southern Angola. It contains a single species, Cardiocorax mukulu.

Pachydiscus is an extinct genus of ammonite from the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene with a worldwide distribution, and type for the desmoceratacean family Pachydiscidae. The genus' type species is P. neubergicus. Altogether some 28 species have been described.

Uberabasuchus ("Uberaba crocodile") is an extinct genus of crocodylomorph from the Late Cretaceous Serra da Galga Formation of Brazil. It appears to have a high skull like that of the sebecosuchians, but differs from them in having teeth with circular cross-section. Thus, rather than slicing flesh and blood vessels, it is likely to have inflicted powerful crushing bites . The post-crania and the geology suggesting an arid climate indicate that Uberabasuchus was likely a terrestrial predator.

Vintana sertichi is an early gondwanatherian mammal dating from the Late Cretaceous, approximately 66 million years ago. Scientists found the lone fossil, a skull, on Madagascar's west coast in the Maastrichtian Maevarano Formation.

Vegasaurus is an extinct genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur known from the Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian stage) Snow Hill Island Formation of Vega Island, Antarctic Peninsula. It contains a single species, Vegasaurus molyi.

Kaikaifilu is an extinct genus of large mosasaurs that lived during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous, in what is now northern Antarctica. The only species known, K. hervei, was described in 2017 from an incomplete specimen discovered in the López de Bertodano Formation, in Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The taxon is named in reference to Coi Coi-Vilu, a reptilian ocean deity of the Mapuche cosmology. Early observations of the holotype classify it as a member of the subfamily Tylosaurinae. However, later observations note that several characteristics show that this attributi

Taveirosaurus (meaning "Taveiro lizard") is a genus of possibly eutriconodontan mammal from the Late Cretaceous Argilas de Aveiro Formation of Portugal, and also Laño, Spain. The genus is based solely on teeth, and the type species is T. costai.

Adalatherium (Adàla, 'crazy' in Malagasy and therium, 'beast' in Greek) is an extinct gondwanatherian that lived in Madagascar during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. The discovery of the first nearly-complete skeleton from the Maevarano Formation was announced in April 2020.

Ferugliotherium is a genus of fossil mammals in the family Ferugliotheriidae from the Campanian and/or Maastrichtian period (Late Cretaceous; around 70 million years ago) of Argentina. It contains a single species, Ferugliotherium windhauseni, which was first described in 1986. Although originally interpreted on the basis of a single brachydont (low-crowned) molar as a member of Multituberculata, an extinct group of small, rodent-like mammals, it was recognized as related to the hypsodont (high-crowned) Sudamericidae following the discovery of additional material in the early 1990s. After a ja

Brasileosaurus (meaning "Brazil lizard") is a genus of notosuchid notosuchian from the Late Cretaceous Adamantina Formation of Brazil. The type species is B. pachecoi, discovered by the Brazilian Eng. Joviano Pacheco and described by the prolific German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene in 1931.

Wunyelfia is a genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur, a type of long-necked marine reptile, that lived in the oceans of Late Cretaceous Chile. It contains one species, W. maulensis.

Kawanectes (meaning "Kawas swimmer") is an extinct genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur, a type of long-necked marine reptile, that lived in the marginal marine, probably estuarine, environment of Late Cretaceous Patagonia. The genus contains a single species, Kawanectes lafquenianum, described in 2016 by José P. O'Gorman.

Ocepechelon is an extinct genus of giant protostegid sea turtle known from the Late Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian stage, 67 Myr) of Morocco. The feeding apparatus of Ocepechelon, a bony pipette-like snout, is unique among tetrapods and shares unique convergences with both syngnathid fishes (unique long tubular bony snout ending in a rounded and forward directed mouth) and beaked whales (large size and elongated edentulous jaws).

Obamadon is an extinct genus of polyglyphanodontian lizards from the Late Cretaceous of North America. Fossils have been found in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana and the Lance Formation of Wyoming. Researchers describe it as being distinguished by its "tall, slender teeth with large central cusps separated from small accessory cusps by lingual grooves." The type species was named Obamadon gracilis after United States president Barack Obama, "in reference to the tall, straight teeth, and the manner in which Mr. Obama has acted as a role model of good oral hygiene for the world." According t

Ogresuchus is an extinct crocodylomorph known from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian stage) Tremp Formation in Spain. The type species, O. furatus, was named in 2020. It was a small crocodylomorph, measuring long and weighing about . Initially classified as a sebecid, a 2026 study suggested that it was a neosuchian, possibly an atoposaurid.

extinct species of azhdarchid pterosaurs

Marambionectes (meaning "Marambio Island swimmer") is an extinct genus of weddellonectian elasmosaurid plesiosaur from the Late Cretaceous López de Bertodano Formation of Antarctica. The genus contains a single species, M. molinai, known from a partial skeleton.

Polysternon is a genus of turtles in the extinct family Bothremydidae. It was described by Portis in 1882, and contains the species P. provinciale (originally placed in the genus Pleurosternon), which existed during the Cretaceous of what is now France and a new species, P. isonae, from the Late Maastrichtian of Spain.

Gondwanatherium is a genus of stem-mammal from the extinct suborder Gondwanatheria that lived in Patagonia, South America during the "Age of Dinosaurs", specifically during the Late Cretaceous (Campanian to Maastrichtian epochs).

Cynodontosuchus is an extinct genus of baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian. Fossils have been found from Argentina of Late Cretaceous age from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (dating back to the Santonian), the Pichi Picun Leufu Formation (dating back to the Coniacian and Santonian). the Tiupampan Santa Lucía Formation of Bolivia.

Albertosuchus is an extinct genus of crocodyloid crocodylian from the Late Cretaceous of Canada. The type species Albertosuchus knudsenii was named in 2015 from the Scollard Formation in Alberta. Albertosuchus is the northernmost-known Late Cretaceous crocodylian in North America. Albertosuchus lacks the notch in the upper jaw between the maxilla and premaxilla bones that is characteristic of most crocodyloids, and it also has a very short mandibular symphysis (the connection between the two halves of the lower jaw). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that it is one of the most basal members of C

Reigitherium was a mammal that lived during the Late Cretaceous (Late Campanian-Maastrichtian). Its fossils have been found in the Los Alamitos and the La Colonia Formations of Argentina.

Magallanodon is a genus of large mammal from the extinct group Gondwanatheria. It contains a single species, Magallanodon baikashkenke. The species is the first Mesozoic mammal known from Chile, and is Late Cretaceous in age. It is known from individual teeth found in a quarry in the Río de Las Chinas Valley and La Anita Farm located in the Magallanes Basin in Patagonia. The fossils come from the Dorotea Formation and Chorrillo Formation, which is Late Campanian to Early Maastrichtian in age. It was more recently estimated to weigh ~10.34 kg.

Groebertherium is a genus of dryolestoid mammal from the Late Cretaceous Los Alamitos and Allen Formations of Argentina. It is not closely related to other contemporary dryolestoids, all of which are part of the clade Meridiolestida.

Chubutinectes (meaning "Chubut swimmer") is an extinct genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur from the Late Cretaceous La Colonia Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, C. carmeloi, known from a partial skeleton and associated gastroliths.

Lohuecosuchus (meaning "Lo Hueco crocodile") is an extinct genus of allodaposuchid eusuchian crocodylomorph that lived during the Late Cretaceous (late Campanian to early Maastrichtian) in what is now Spain and southern France.

Patagoniaemys is an extinct genus of stem turtle known from the late Cretaceous (Campanian to Maastrichtian age) of central Patagonia, Argentina. The genus contains two species: the type species, Patagoniaemys gasparinae, named in 2011, and a second species, Patagoniaemys aeschyli, named in 2026. It is a relatively large taxon with an oval-shaped carapace that has a large nuchal notch and many pits and grooves over its surface.

Leonardus is an extinct mammal genus from the Late Cretaceous (Late Santonian to Maastrichtian) of South America. It is a meridiolestidan, closely related to the also Late Cretaceous Cronopio and the Miocene Necrolestes.

Itasuchus is an extinct genus of crocodyliforms from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Fossils of the type species I. jesuinoi, first described in 1955 by Llewellyn Ivor Price, have been found from the Marília Formation, though later finds also support its presence in the sediments of the Presidente Prudente Formation.

Austrotriconodon is a mammal genus from the Campanian and Maastrichtian of South America. It currently contains only the type species, A. mckennai. Originally assumed to be a eutriconodont, more recent studies have recovered it as a meridiolestidan dryolestoid.

Brasilestes is an extinct genus of mammals from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) of South America. Its type species, B. stardusti, is named after David Bowie.

Protoscaphirhynchus squamosus is an extinct sturgeon from the Late Cretaceous of North America. It is known from a single poorly preserved specimen found in the Maastrichtian aged Hell Creek Formation in Montana. Due to its poor preservational state, it has few diagnostic characters.

Barbatodon is a mammal genus from the Upper Cretaceous period. It lived in Transylvania at the same time as some of the last dinosaurs and was a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata. It is within the suborder of Cimolodonta, and the family Kogaionidae. The genus Barbatodon was named by Constantin Rădulescu and Petre Mihai Samson in 1986.

Agaresuchus is an extinct genus of allodaposuchid eusuchian crocodylomorph from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) of Spain. It includes two species, the type species A. fontisensis, and A. subjuniperus, which was originally named as a species of the related genus Allodaposuchus. However, it has been proposed that both species may instead belong to the genus Allodaposuchus.

Coloniatherium is a meridiolestid mammal from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. The single species, Coloniatherium cilinskii, was a large member of the family Mesungulatidae.

Orretherium (meaning "Five teeth beast"; in part from the Aonikenk language) is a genus of mesungulatid mammal that lived in South America (Chile) during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now the Dorotea Formation. It is estimated to have weighed ~1.3kg.

extinct species of azhdarchid pterosaurs (Azhdarchidae)

Bothremys is an extinct genus of bothremydid pleurodiran turtle that was discovered near Gloucester, New Jersey. The genus consists of type species B. cooki, B. arabicus, B. kellyi, and B. maghrebiana.