What is the Maastrichtian age?

The Maastrichtian age is the last stage of the Late Cretaceous period, spanning from approximately 72.1 to 66 million years ago. It is characterized by significant geological and biological changes, including the diversification of flowering plants and the dominance of dinosaurs. The Maastrichtian is also notable for the mass extinction event at its end, which led to the demise of many species, including the non-avian dinosaurs. This age is named after the Maastricht area in the Netherlands, where key geological formations from this period are found.