Cretaceous

The Cretaceous period lasted roughly 145–66 million years ago. In southeast Morocco, Cretaceous fossil sites are often connected to river environments and dinosaur-age ecosystems.

Erfoud during the Cretaceous

During the Cretaceous, parts of this region are often described through the lens of river systems: channels, floodplains, and wetlands that supported a rich food chain. That’s why many Cretaceous finds are linked to water—fish, reptiles, and large predators that hunted near rivers.

River environments can move and concentrate fossils. So instead of neat “museum” skeletons, Cretaceous contexts are often understood through strong, recognizable pieces like teeth, jaw fragments, and dense fossil material that survives transport in rivers.

What was living back then?

Cretaceous-age fossil discussions in Morocco often include:

• Large theropod dinosaurs — including famous river-adapted predator stories often associated with the region (e.g., Spinosaurus).
• Ancient fish — a major part of the ecosystem, represented by teeth, scales, and jaw fragments.
• Sawfish — often discussed via rostrum fragments (commonly linked to Onchopristis).
• Crocodile relatives and other river reptiles — linked to wetland and river habitats.
• Turtles and other aquatic life — part of the wider river-world picture.

Even when you don’t “find a dinosaur,” the landscape and fossil context help you understand what made this era so unique.