Today, Europe has two main islands—Britain and Ireland. Back in Cretaceous times, Europe was almost all islands, surrounded by wide shallow seas. Only the hills and mountains of Scandinavia in the north towered above the waters. Nearly all southeastern Europe was under the waves. There was also a strait between Europe and Asia, where the Ural Mountains now stand. Many new kinds of dinosaurs evolved on these islands. Some were able to feast on the new flowering plants, such as herbs and blossom trees, which brought fresh colours to the landscape.

In this scene, small Hypsilophodon scurry away at speed from the meat-eater, while a herd of Iguanodon pull the leaves from trees with their beak-like mouths. Such plant-eaters lived in constant fear of attack. They probably moved about in herds, sprinting for safety whenever danger threatened. If alone and cornered, Iguanodon could rear up on its hind legs and jab its vicious thumb spike into the body of its attacker.

Balaur

Balaur bondoc ("stocky dragon"), a small feathered theropod just 2 metres (6.6 ft) long, including its tail, had not one but two large sickle claws on each foot. Its relatives, including Velociraptor, had only one. Balaur, discovered in Romania in 2009, is the most complete theropod fossil from Late Cretaceous Europe ever found.