Danian Stage

Recovery from end-Cretaceous extinction

The Danian (66–61.6 Ma) is the first age of the Paleocene Epoch, occurring after the Maastrichtian (Cretaceous Period), and before the Selandian.

Geologic Age

66.0–61.6 million years ago

Eon / Era / Period / Epoch

Phanerozoic; Cenozoic; Paleogene; Paleocene

What happened during this time?

Recovery from the Cretaceous extinction
Cooler and dryer than preceding Cretaceous
Ferns return quickly after bolide impact as evidenced by a spike in fern spores during Danian
Angiosperms recovered slower
Oldest flower from a buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) found during this time (Jud et al. 2017)

Above: Iridium layer from the bolide impact around 66 Ma. The upper layer is Paleogene (Danian) sediment; lower layers from the Cretaceous (Maastrictian)

Above: Oldest known buckthorn flower

Additional Resources

Patagonian fossil leaves reveal rapid recovery from dinosaur extinction event (Phys.org, 7Nov2016)