cretaceus
Cretaceus is a Latin adjective meaning chalky or of chalk. The word derives from creta, chalk or limestone, and its form is part of a family of adjectives that describe material, appearance, or habitat in scientific naming. In Latin, cretaceus has gendered forms: cretaceus (masculine), cretacea (feminine), and cretaceum (neuter), with the ending varying to agree with the noun it modifies.
In taxonomic practice, cretaceus is commonly used as a species or subspecies epithet in zoology and botany
The term also connects to geology and paleontology through its root in chalky materials. The English term
Overall, cretaceus serves as a descriptive Latin term used across biological naming to signal chalk-like characteristics