imtoken钱包下载安卓最新版本|velociraptor

作者: imtoken钱包下载安卓最新版本
2024-03-13 06:40:33

Velociraptor - Wikipedia

Jump to content

Main menu

move to sidebar

hide

Navigation

Main pageContentsCurrent eventsRandom articleAbout WikipediaContact usDonate

Contribute

HelpLearn to editCommunity portalRecent changesUpload file

Create account

Personal tools

Create account Log in

Pages for logged out editors learn more

ContributionsTalk

Contents

move to sidebar

hide

(Top)

1History of discovery

Toggle History of discovery subsection

1.1Additional species

2Description

Toggle Description subsection

2.1Skull

2.2Postcranial skeleton

3Classification

4Paleobiology

Toggle Paleobiology subsection

4.1Feathers

4.2Senses

4.3Feeding

4.4Predatory behavior

4.5Scavenging behavior

4.6Metabolism

4.7Paleopathology

5Paleoenvironment

Toggle Paleoenvironment subsection

5.1Bayan Mandahu Formation

5.2Djadochta Formation

6Cultural significance

7See also

8References

9External links

Toggle the table of contents

Velociraptor

71 languages

AfrikaansالعربيةAragonésAsturianuAzərbaycancaБългарскиBrezhonegCatalàCebuanoČeštinaDanskDeutschΕλληνικάEspañolEsperantoEuskaraفارسیFrançaisGaeilgeGalego한국어Hawaiʻiहिन्दीHrvatskiBahasa IndonesiaÍslenskaItalianoעבריתJawaქართულიҚазақшаLatinaLatviešuLietuviųLimburgsMagyarമലയാളംBahasa MelayuNāhuatlNederlands日本語Norsk bokmålNorsk nynorskOccitanOʻzbekcha / ўзбекчаPolskiPortuguêsRomânăРусскийScotsShqipSicilianuSimple EnglishSlovenčinaSlovenščinaСрпски / srpskiSrpskohrvatski / српскохрватскиSuomiSvenskaTagalogதமிழ்ไทยᏣᎳᎩTürkçeУкраїнськаTiếng ViệtWinaray吴语粵語Žemaitėška中文

Edit links

ArticleTalk

English

ReadView sourceView history

Tools

move to sidebar

hide

Actions

ReadView sourceView history

General

What links hereRelated changesUpload fileSpecial pagesPermanent linkPage informationCite this pageGet shortened URLDownload QR codeWikidata item

Print/export

Download as PDFPrintable version

In other projects

Wikimedia CommonsWikispeciesWikiquote

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dromaeosaurid dinosaur genus from the Late Cretaceous

For other uses, see Velociraptor (disambiguation).

VelociraptorTemporal range: Late Cretaceous, (Campanian) ~75–71 Ma

PreꞒ

Ꞓ

↓

Mounted V. mongoliensis cast at Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

Scientific classification

Domain:

Eukaryota

Kingdom:

Animalia

Phylum:

Chordata

Clade:

Dinosauria

Clade:

Saurischia

Clade:

Theropoda

Family:

†Dromaeosauridae

Clade:

†Eudromaeosauria

Subfamily:

†Velociraptorinae

Genus:

†VelociraptorOsborn, 1924

Type species

†Velociraptor mongoliensisOsborn, 1924

Other species

†V.? osmolskae Godefroit et al., 2008

Velociraptor (/vəˌlɒsɪˈræptər, vəˈlɒsɪræptər/;[1] lit. 'swift thief') is a genus of small dromaeosaurid dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous epoch, about 75 million to 71 million years ago. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis, named and described in 1924. Fossils of this species have been discovered in the Djadochta Formation, Mongolia. A second species, V. osmolskae, was named in 2008 for skull material from the Bayan Mandahu Formation, China.

Smaller than other dromaeosaurids like Deinonychus and Achillobator, Velociraptor was about 1.5–2.07 m (4.9–6.8 ft) long with a body mass around 14.1–19.7 kg (31–43 lb). It nevertheless shared many of the same anatomical features. It was a bipedal, feathered carnivore with a long tail and an enlarged sickle-shaped claw on each hindfoot, which is thought to have been used to tackle and restrain prey. Velociraptor can be distinguished from other dromaeosaurids by its long and low skull, with an upturned snout.

Velociraptor (commonly referred to as "raptor") is one of the dinosaur genera most familiar to the general public due to its prominent role in the Jurassic Park films. In reality, however, Velociraptor was roughly the size of a turkey, considerably smaller than the approximately 2 m (6.6 ft) tall and 90 kg (200 lb) reptiles seen in the novels and films (which were based on members of the related genus Deinonychus). Today, Velociraptor is well known to paleontologists, with over a dozen described fossil skeletons. One particularly famous specimen preserves a Velociraptor locked in combat with a Protoceratops.

History of discovery

Photograph of the Flaming Cliffs, MongoliaLine diagram of V. mongoliensis holotype skull and associated manual ungual

During an American Museum of Natural History expedition to the Flaming Cliffs (Bayn Dzak or Bayanzag) of the Djadochta Formation, Gobi Desert, on 11 August 1923, Peter Kaisen discovered the first Velociraptor fossil known to science—a crushed but complete skull, associated with one of the raptorial second toe claws (AMNH 6515). In 1924, museum president Henry Fairfield Osborn designated the skull and claw (which he assumed to come from the hand) as the type specimen of his new genus, Velociraptor. This name is derived from the Latin words velox ('swift') and raptor ('robber' or 'plunderer') and refers to the animal's cursorial nature and carnivorous diet. Osborn named the type species V. mongoliensis after its country of origin.[2] Earlier that year, Osborn had informally mentioned the animal in a popular press article, under the name "Ovoraptor djadochtari" (not to be confused with the similarly named Oviraptor),[3] eventually changed into V. mongoliensis during its formal description.[2]

While North American teams were shut out of communist Mongolia during the Cold War, expeditions by Soviet and Polish scientists, in collaboration with Mongolian colleagues, recovered several more specimens of Velociraptor. The most famous is part of the "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen (MPC-D 100/25; formerly IGM, GIN, or GI SPS), discovered by a Polish-Mongolian team in 1971. The fossil preserves a Velociraptor in battle against a Protoceratops.[4][5][6] It is considered a national treasure of Mongolia, and in 2000 it was loaned to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City for a temporary exhibition.[7]

Between 1988 and 1990, a joint Chinese-Canadian team discovered Velociraptor remains in northern China.[8] American scientists returned to Mongolia in 1990, and a joint Mongolian-American expedition to the Gobi, led by the American Museum of Natural History and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, turned up several well-preserved skeletons.[9][10] One such specimen, MPC-D 100/980, was nicknamed "Ichabodcraniosaurus" by Norell's team because the fairly complete specimen was found without its skull (an allusion to the Washington Irving character Ichabod Crane).[11] While Norell and Makovicky provisionally considered it a specimen of Velociraptor mongoliensis,[9] it was named as a new species Shri devi in 2021.[12]

In 1999, Rinchen Barsbold and Halszka Osmólska reported a juvenile Velociraptor specimen (GIN or IGM 100/2000), represented by a complete skeleton including the skull of a young individual. It was found at the Tugriken Shireh locality of the Djadochta Formation during the context of the Mongolian-Japanese Palaeontological Expeditions. The coauthors stated that detailed descriptions of this and other specimens would be published at a later date.[13]

Additional species

Velociraptorine skulls, B, D, E are V. mongoliensis, C is V sp., and F is V. osmolskae (known parts in gray)

Maxillae and a lacrimal (the main tooth-bearing bones of the upper jaw, and the bone that forms the anterior margin of the eye socket, respectively) recovered from the Bayan Mandahu Formation in 1999 by the Sino-Belgian Dinosaur Expeditions were found to pertain to Velociraptor, but not to the type species V. mongoliensis. Pascal Godefroit and colleagues named these bones V. osmolskae (for Polish paleontologist Halszka Osmólska) in 2008.[14] However, the 2013 study noted that while "the elongate shape of the maxilla in V. osmolskae is similar to that of V. mongoliensis," phylogenetic analysis found it to be closer to Linheraptor, making the genus paraphyletic; thus, V. osmolskae might not actually belong to the genus Velociraptor and requires reassessment.[15]

Paleontologists Mark A. Norell and Peter J. Makovicky in 1997 described new and well preserved specimens of V. mongoliensis, namely MPC-D 100/985 collected from the Tugrik Shireh locality in 1993, and MPC-D 100/986 collected in 1993 from the Chimney Buttes locality. The team briefly mentioned another specimen, MPC-D 100/982, which by the time of this publication remained undescribed.[10] In 1999 Norell and Makovicky provided more insights into the anatomy of Velociraptor with additional specimens. Among these, MPC-D 100/982 was partially described and figured, and referred to V. mongoliensis mainly based on cranial similarities with the holotype skull, although they stated that differences were present between the pelvic region of this specimen and other Velociraptor specimens. This relatively well-preserved specimen including the skull was discovered and collected in 1995 at the Bayn Dzak locality (specifically at the "Volcano" sub-locality).[9] Martin Kundrát in a 2004 abstract compared the neurocranium of MPC-D 100/982 to another Velociraptor specimen, MPC-D 100/976. He concluded that the overall morphology of the former was more derived (advanced) than the latter, suggesting that they could represent distinct taxa.[16]

Velociraptor specimen MPC-D 100/982, possibly a new species

Mark J. Powers in his 2020 master thesis fully described MPC-D 100/982, which he concluded to represent a new and third species of Velociraptor. This species, which he considered distinct, was stated to mainly differ from other Velociraptor species in having a shallow maxilla morphology.[17] Powers and colleagues also in 2020 used morphometric analyses to compare several dromaeosaurid maxillae, and found the maxilla of MPC-D 100/982 to strongly differ from specimens referred to Velociraptor. They indicated that this specimen, based on these results, represents a different species.[18] In 2021 Powers with team used Principal Component Analysis to separate dromaeosaurid maxillae, most notably finding that MPC-D 100/982 falls outside the instraspecific variability of V. mongoliensis, arguing for a distinct species. They considered that both V. mongoliensis and this new species were ecologically separated based on their skull anatomy.[19] The team in another 2021 abstract reinforced again the species-level separation, noting that additional differences can be found in the hindlimbs.[20]

Description

Velociraptor specimens compared in size to a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall human

Velociraptor was a small to medium-sized dromaeosaurid, with adults measuring between 1.5–2.07 m (4.9–6.8 ft) long, approximately 0.5 m (1.6 ft) high at the hips,[21][22] and weighing about 14.1–19.7 kg (31–43 lb).[23][24]

Prominent quill knobs—attachment site of "wing" feathers and direct indicator of a feather covering—have been reported from the ulna of a single Velociraptor specimen (IGM 100/981), which represents an animal of estimated 1.5 m (4.9 ft) long and 15 kg (33 lb) in weight. The spacing of 6 preserved knobs suggests that 8 additional knobs may have been present, giving a total of 14 quill knobs that developed large secondaries ("wing" feathers stemming from the forearm).[25] However, the specimen number has been corrected to IGM 100/3503 and its referral to Velociraptor may require reevaluation, pending further study.[26] Nevertheless, there is strong phylogenetic evidence from other dromaeosaurid relatives that indicates the presence of feathers in Velociraptor, including dromaeosaurids such as Daurlong,[27] Microraptor,[28] or Zhenyuanlong.[29]

Skull

V. mongoliensis holotype skull (right), rostrum (left), and dentary (bottom)

The skull of Velociraptor was rather elongated and grew up to 23 cm (9.1 in) long. It was uniquely up-curved at the snout region, concave on the upper surface, and convex on the lower surface. The snout, which occupied about 60% of the entire skull length, was notably narrow and mainly formed by the nasal, premaxilla, and maxilla bones. The premaxilla was the anteriormost bone in the skull, and it was longer than taller. While its posterior end joined the nasal, the main body of the premaxilla touched the maxilla. The maxilla was nearly triangular in shape and the largest element of the snout. On its center or main body, there was a depression developing a small oval to circular-shaped hole, called maxillary fenestra. Though in front of this fenestra were two small openings, referred to as promaxillary fenestrae. The posterior border of the maxilla formed (predominantly) the antorbital fenestra, one of the several large holes in the skull. Both premaxilla and maxilla had several alveoli (tooth sockets) on their bottom surfaces. Above the maxilla and making contact with the premaxilla, there was the nasal bone. It was a thin/narrow and elongated bone contributing to the top surface of the snout. Together, both premaxilla and nasal bones gave form to the naris or narial fenestra (nostril opening), which was relatively large and circular. The posterior end of the nasal was joined by the frontal and lacrimal bones.[30][13]

Skull of MPC-D 100/25 (Fighting Dinosaurs individual), in lateral (A-C), top (B), bottom (D-E), and posterior (E) views

The back or anterior region of the skull was built by the frontal, lacrimal, postorbital, jugal, parietal, quadrate, and quadratojugal bones. The frontal was large element, having a vaguely rectangular shape when seen from above. On its posterior end, this bone was in contact with the parietal, and such elements were the main bodies of the skull roof. The lacrimal was a T-shaped bone and its main body was thin and delicated. Its lower end meet the jugal (often called cheek bone), which was a large, sub-triangular-shaped element. Its lower border was notably straight/horizontal. The postorbital was located just above the jugal: a stocky and strongly T-shaped bone. As a whole, the orbit or orbital fenestra (eye socket)—formed by the lacrimal, jugal, frontal, and postorbital—was large and near circular in shape, being longer than taller. When seen from above, a pair of large and markedly rounded holes were present near the rear of the skull (the temporal fenestrae), whose main components were the postorbital and squamosal. Behind the jugal, an inverted T-shaped bone (also seen in other dromaeosaurids), known as the quadratojugal, was developed. While the upper end of the quadratojugal joined the squamosal, an irregularly-shaped element, its inner side meet the quadrate. The latter was of great importance for the articulation with the lower jaw. The posteriormost bone was the occipital bone and its projection the occipital condyle: a rounded and bulbous protuberance that meet the first vertebra of the neck.[30][13]

Isolated tooth of ZPAL MgD-I/97a

The lower jaw of Velociraptor comprised mainly the dentary, splenial, angular, surangular, and articular bones. The dentary was a very long, weakly curved, and narrow element that developed several alveoli on its top surface. On its posterior end, it meet the surangular. It had a small hole near its posterior end, called surangular foramen or fenestra. Both bones were the largest elements of the lower jaw of Velociraptor, contributing to virtually its entire length. Below them were the smaller splenial and angular, closely articulated to each other. The articular, located on the inner side of the surangular, was a small element that joined the quadrate of the upper skull, enabling the articulation with the lower jaw. An elongated, near oval-shaped hole was developed in the center of the lower jaw (the mandibular fenestra), and it was produced by the joint of the dentary, surangular, and angular bones.[30][13]

The teeth of Velociraptor were fairly homodont (equal in shape) and had several denticles (serrations), each more strongly serrated on the back edge than the front. The premaxilla had 4 alveoli (meaning that 4 teeth were developed), and the maxilla had 11 alveoli. At the dentary, between 14–15 alveoli were present. All teeth present at the premaxilla were poorly curved, and the two first teeth were the longest, with the second having a characteristic large size. The maxillary teeth were more slender, recurved, and most notably, the lower end was strongly more serrated than the upper one.[30][13]

Postcranial skeleton

Line diagram of the pes of V. mongoliensis (MPC-D 100/985)

The arm of Velociraptor was formed by the humerus (upper arm bone), radius and ulna (forearm bones), and manus (hand). Velociraptor, like other dromaeosaurids, had a large manus with three elongated digits (fingers), which ended up in strongly curved unguals (claw bones) that were similar in construction and flexibility to the wing bones of modern birds. The second digit was the longest of the three digits present, while the first was shortest. The structure of the carpal (wrist) bones prevented pronation of the wrist and forced the manus to be held with the palmar surface facing inward (medially), not downward. The pes (foot) anatomy of Velociraptor consisted of the metatarsus—a large element composed of three metatarsals of which the first one was extremely reduced in size—and four digits that developed large unguals. The first digit, as in other theropods, was a small dewclaw. The second digit, for which Velociraptor is most famous, was highly modified and held retracted off the ground, which caused Velociraptor and other dromaeosaurids to walk on only their third and fourth digits. It bore a relatively large, sickle-shaped claw, typical of dromaeosaurid and troodontid dinosaurs. This enlarged claw, which could grow to over 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long around its outer edge, was most likely a predatory device used to restrain struggling prey.[10][9]

Skeletal reconstruction of V. mongoliensis (MPC-D 100/25)

As in other dromaeosaurs, Velociraptor tails had prezygapophyses (long bony projections) on the upper surfaces of the vertebrae, as well as ossified tendons underneath. The prezygapophyses began on the tenth tail (caudal) vertebra and extended forward to brace four to ten additional vertebrae, depending on position in the tail. These were once thought to fully stiffen the tail, forcing the entire tail to act as a single rod-like unit. However, at least one specimen has preserved a series of intact tail vertebrae curved sideways into an S-shape, suggesting that there was considerably more horizontal flexibility than once thought.[10][9][31]

Classification

Velociraptor is a member of the group Eudromaeosauria, a derived sub-group of the larger family Dromaeosauridae. It is often placed within its own subfamily, Velociraptorinae. In phylogenetic taxonomy, Velociraptorinae is usually defined as "all dromaeosaurs more closely related to Velociraptor than to Dromaeosaurus." However, dromaeosaurid classification is highly variable. Originally, the subfamily Velociraptorinae was erected solely to contain Velociraptor.[4] Other analyses have often included other genera, usually Deinonychus and Saurornitholestes,[32] and more recently Tsaagan.[33] Several studies published during the 2010s, including expanded versions of the analyses that found support for Velociraptorinae, have failed to resolve it as a distinct group, but rather have suggested it is a paraphyletic grade which gave rise to the Dromaeosaurinae.[34][35]

When first described in 1924, Velociraptor was placed in the family Megalosauridae, as was the case with most carnivorous dinosaurs at the time (Megalosauridae, like Megalosaurus, functioned as a sort of 'wastebin' taxon, where many unrelated species were grouped together).[2] As dinosaur discoveries multiplied, Velociraptor was later recognized as a dromaeosaurid. All dromaeosaurids have also been referred to the family Archaeopterygidae by at least one author (which would, in effect, make Velociraptor a flightless bird).[36] In the past, other dromaeosaurid species, including Deinonychus antirrhopus and Saurornitholestes langstoni, have sometimes been classified in the genus Velociraptor. Since Velociraptor was the first to be named, these species were renamed Velociraptor antirrhopus and V. langstoni.[21] As of 2008,[update] the only currently recognized species of Velociraptor are V. mongoliensis[13][36][37] and V. osmolskae.[14] However, several studies have found "V." osmolskae to be distantly related to V. mongoliensis.[38][39]

Size of Velociraptor (2) compared with other dromaeosaurs

Comparison of some members of Velociraptorinae, featuring Linheraptor, Tsaagan and Velociraptor

Below are the results for the Eudromaeosauria phylogeny based on the phylogenetic analysis conducted by James G. Napoli and team in 2021 during the description of Kuru, showing the position of Velociraptor:[26]

Eudromaeosauria

Saurornitholestes

Bambiraptor

Dromaeosaurinae

Achillobator

Utahraptor

Dromaeosaurus

Velociraptorinae

Linheraptor

Tsaagan

Deinonychus

Adasaurus

Kuru

Balaur

Shri

Velociraptor

Paleobiology

Feathers

In 2007 Alan H. Turner and colleagues reported the presence of six quill knobs in the ulna of a referred Velociraptor specimen (IGM 100/981) from the Ukhaa Tolgod locality of the Djadochta Formation. Turner and colleagues interpreted the presence of feathers on Velociraptor as evidence against the idea that the larger, flightless maniraptorans lost their feathers secondarily due to larger body size. Furthermore, they noted that quill knobs are almost never found in flightless bird species today, and that their presence in Velociraptor (presumed to have been flightless due to its relatively large size and short forelimbs) is evidence that the ancestors of dromaeosaurids could fly, making Velociraptor and other large members of this family secondarily flightless, though it is possible the large wing feathers inferred in the ancestors of Velociraptor had a purpose other than flight. The feathers of the flightless Velociraptor may have been used for display, for covering their nests while brooding, or for added speed and thrust when running up inclined slopes.[25]

Because of the presence of another dromaeosaurid in Ukhaa Tolgod, Tsaagan, Napoli and team have noted that the referral of this specimen to Velociraptor is currently subject to reexamination.[26]

Senses

Examinations of the endocranium of Velociraptor indicate that it was able to detect and hear a wide range of sound frequencies (2,368–3,965 Hz) and could track prey with ease as a result. The endocranium examinations also further cemented the theory that the dromaeosaur was an agile, swift predator. Fossil evidence suggesting Velociraptor scavenged also indicates that it was an opportunistic and actively predatory animal, feeding on carrion during times of drought or famine, if in poor health, or depending on the animal's age.[40]

Feeding

In 2020, Powers and colleagues re-examined the maxillae of several eudromaeosaur taxa concluding that most Asian and North American eudromaeosaurs were separated by snout morphology and ecological strategies. They found the maxilla to be a reliable reference when inferring the shape of the premaxilla and overall snout. For instance, most Asian species have elongated snouts based on the maxilla (namely velociraptorines), indicating a selective feeding in Velociraptor and relatives, such as picking up small, fast prey. In contrast, most North American eudromaeosaurs, mostly dromaeosaurines, feature a robust and deep maxillar morphology. However, the large dromaeosurine Achillobator is a unique exception to Asian taxa with its deep maxilla.[41]

Manabu Sakamoto in 2022 performed a Bayesian phylogenetic predictive modelling framework for estimating jaw muscle parameters and bite forces of several extinct archosaurs, based on skull widths and phylogenetic relationships between groups. Among studied taxa, Velociraptor was scored with a bite force of 304 N, which was lower than that of other dromaeosaurids such as Dromaeosaurus (885 N) or Deinonychus (706 N).[42]

Predatory behavior

The "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen of V. mongoliensis and Protoceratops andrewsi and restoration of same

The "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen, found in 1971, preserves a Velociraptor mongoliensis and Protoceratops andrewsi in combat and provides direct evidence of predatory behavior. When originally reported, it was hypothesized that the two animals drowned.[6] However, as the animals were preserved in ancient sand dune deposits, it is now thought that the animals were buried in sand, either from a collapsing dune or in a sandstorm. Burial must have been extremely rapid, judging from the lifelike poses in which the animals were preserved. Parts of the Protoceratops are missing, which has been seen as evidence of scavenging by other animals.[43] Comparisons between the scleral rings of Velociraptor, Protoceratops, and modern birds and reptiles indicates that Velociraptor may have been nocturnal, while Protoceratops may have been cathemeral, active throughout the day during short intervals, suggesting that the fight may have occurred at twilight or during low-light conditions.[44]

Size comparison of the Fighting Dinosaurs

The distinctive claw, on the second digit of dromaeosaurids, has traditionally been depicted as a slashing weapon; its assumed use being to cut and disembowel prey.[45] In the "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen, the Velociraptor lies underneath, with one of its sickle claws apparently embedded in the throat of its prey, while the beak of Protoceratops is clamped down upon the right forelimb of its attacker. This suggests Velociraptor may have used its sickle claw to pierce vital organs of the throat, such as the jugular vein, carotid artery, or trachea (windpipe), rather than slashing the abdomen. The inside edge of the claw was rounded and not unusually sharp, which may have precluded any sort of cutting or slashing action, although only the bony core of the claw is preserved. The thick abdominal wall of skin and muscle of large prey species would have been difficult to slash without a specialized cutting surface.[43] The slashing hypothesis was tested during a 2005 BBC documentary, The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs. The producers of the program created an artificial Velociraptor leg with a sickle claw and used a pork belly to simulate the dinosaur's prey. Though the sickle claw did penetrate the abdominal wall, it was unable to tear it open, indicating that the claw was not used to disembowel prey.[46]

Remains of Deinonychus, a closely related dromaeosaurid, have commonly been found in aggregations of several individuals. Deinonychus has also been found in association with the large ornithopod Tenontosaurus, which has been cited as evidence of cooperative (pack) hunting.[47][48] However, the only solid evidence for social behavior of any kind among dromaeosaurids comes from a Chinese trackway which shows six individuals of a large species moving as a group.[49] Although many isolated fossils of Velociraptor have been found in Mongolia, none were closely associated with other individuals.[37] Therefore, while Velociraptor is commonly depicted as a pack hunter, as in Jurassic Park, there is only limited fossil evidence to support this theory for dromaeosaurids in general and none specific to Velociraptor itself. Dromeosaur footprints in China suggest that a few other raptor genera may have hunted in packs, but there have been no conclusive examples of pack behavior found.[50][51]

V. mongoliensis restraining an oviraptorosaur with its sickle claws

In 2011, Denver Fowler and colleagues suggested a new method by which dromaeosaurs like Velociraptor and similar dromaeosaurs may have captured and restrained prey. This model, known as the "raptor prey restraint" (RPR) model of predation, proposes that dromaeosaurs killed their prey in a manner very similar to extant accipitrid birds of prey: by leaping onto their quarry, pinning it under their body weight, and gripping it tightly with the large, sickle-shaped claws. These researchers proposed that, like accipitrids, the dromaeosaur would then begin to feed on the animal while it was still alive, and prey death would eventually result from blood loss and organ failure. This proposal is based primarily on comparisons between the morphology and proportions of the feet and legs of dromaeosaurs to several groups of extant birds of prey with known predatory behaviors. Fowler found that the feet and legs of dromaeosaurs most closely resemble those of eagles and hawks, especially in terms of having an enlarged second claw and a similar range of grasping motion. The short metatarsus and foot strength, however, would have been more similar to that of owls. The RPR method of predation would be consistent with other aspects of Velociraptor's anatomy, such as their unusual jaw and arm morphology. The arms, which could exert a lot of force but were likely covered in long feathers, may have been used as flapping stabilizers for balance while atop a struggling prey animal, along with the stiff counterbalancing tail. The jaws, thought by Fowler and colleagues to be comparatively weak, would have been useful for row saw motion bites like the modern day Komodo dragon, which also has a weak bite, to finish off its prey if the kicks were not powerful enough. These predatory adaptations working together may also have implications for the origin of flapping in paravians.[31]

Scavenging behavior

In 2010, Hone and colleagues published a paper on their 2008 discovery of shed teeth of what they believed to be a Velociraptor near a tooth-marked jaw bone of what they believed to be a Protoceratops in the Bayan Mandahu Formation. The authors concluded that the find represented "late-stage carcass consumption by Velociraptor" as the predator would have eaten other parts of a freshly killed Protoceratops before biting in the jaw area. The evidence was seen as supporting the inference from the "Fighting Dinosaurs" fossil that Protoceratops was part of the diet of Velociraptor.[52]

In 2012, Hone and colleagues published a paper that described a Velociraptor specimen with a long bone of an azhdarchid pterosaur in its gut. This was interpreted as showing scavenging behaviour.[53]

Metabolism

3D scan and nasal cavity reconstruction of V. mongoliensis skull MPC-D 100/54

Velociraptor was warm-blooded to some degree, as it required a significant amount of energy to hunt. Modern animals that possess feathery or furry coats, like Velociraptor did, tend to be warm-blooded, since these coverings function as insulation. However, bone growth rates in dromaeosaurids and some early birds suggest a more moderate metabolism, compared with most modern warm-blooded mammals and birds. The kiwi is similar to dromaeosaurids in anatomy, feather type, bone structure and even the narrow anatomy of the nasal passages (usually a key indicator of metabolism). The kiwi is a highly active, if specialized, flightless bird, with a stable body temperature and a fairly low resting metabolic rate, making it a good model for the metabolism of primitive birds and dromaeosaurids.[36]

In 2023, Seishiro Tada and team examined the nasal cavities of ectotherm (cold-blooded) or endotherm (warm-blooded) species, in order to evaluate the thermoregulatory physiology of non-avian dinosaurs compared to these groups. They found that the size of the nasal cavity relative to the head size of extant endotherms is larger than those of extant ectotherms, and among taxa, Velociraptor was recovered below the extant endotherms level by reconstructing its nasal respiratory cavity. Tada with team suggested that Velociraptor and most other non-avian dinosaurs may not have possessed a fully or well-developed nasal thermoregulation apparatus as modern endothermic animals do.[54]

Paleopathology

Main article: Theropod paleopathology

Norell with colleagues in 1995 reported one V. mongoliensis skull bearing two parallel rows of small punctures on its frontal bones that, upon closer examination, match the spacing and size of Velociraptor teeth. They suggested that the wound was likely inflicted by another Velociraptor during a fight between the species. Because its bone structure shows no sign of healing near the bite wounds and the overall specimen was not scavenged, this individual was likely killed by this fatal wound.[55] In 2001 Molnar and team noted that this specimen is MPC-D 100/976 hailing from the Tugrik Shireh locality, which has also yielded the Fighting Dinosaurs specimen.[56]

In 2012 David Hone and team reported another injured Velociraptor specimen (MPC-D 100/54, roughly a sub-adult individual) found with the bones of an azhdarchid pterosaur within its stomach cavity, was carrying or recovering from an injury sustained to one broken rib. From evidence on the pterosaur bones, which were devoid of pitting or deformations from digestion, the Velociraptor died shortly after, possibly from the earlier injury. Nevertheless, the team noted that this broken ribs shows signs of bone healing.[53]

Paleoenvironment

Bayan Mandahu Formation

Restoration of related Linheraptor in paleoenvironment

In both Bayan Mandahu and Djadochta formations many of the same genera were present, though they varied at the species level. These differences in species composition may be due a natural barrier separating the two formations, which are relatively close to each other geographically.[14] However, given the lack of any known barrier which would cause the specific faunal compositions found in these areas, it is more likely that those differences indicate a slight time difference.[57]

V. osmolskae lived alongside the ankylosaurid Pinacosaurus mephistocephalus; alvarezsaurid Linhenykus; closely related dromaeosaurid Linheraptor; oviraptorids Machairasaurus and Wulatelong; protoceratopsids Bagaceratops and Protoceratops hellenikorhinus; and troodontids Linhevenator, Papiliovenator, and Philovenator.[57] Sediments across the formation indicate a similar depositional environment to that of the Djadochta Formation.[58]

Djadochta Formation

Restoration of V. mongoliensis in the arid Djadochta settings

Known specimens of Velociraptor mongoliensis have been recovered from the Djadochta Formation (also spelled Djadokhta), in the Mongolian province of Ömnögovi. This geological formation is estimated to date back to the Campanian stage (between 75 million and 71 million years ago) of the Late Cretaceous epoch.[59] The abundant sediments—sands, sandstones, or caliche—of the Djadochta Formation were deposited by eolian (wind) processes in arid settings with fields of sand dunes and only intermittent streams, as indicated by very sparse fluvial (river-deposited) sedimentation, under a semi-arid climate.[60][59][61]

The Djadochta Formation is separated into a lower Bayn Dzak Member and upper Turgrugyin Member. V. mongoliensis is known from both members, represented by numerous specimens.[59] The Bayn Dzak Member (mainly Bayn Dzak locality) has yielded the oviraptorid Oviraptor; ankylosaurid Pinacosaurus grangeri; protoceratopsid Protoceratops andrewsi; and troodontid Saurornithoides.[2][59] The younger Turgrugyin Member (mainly Tugriken Shireh locality) has produced the bird Elsornis; dromaeosaurid Mahakala: ornithomimid Aepyornithomimus; and protoceratopsid Protoceratops andrewsi.[62][63]

V. mongoliensis has been found at many of the most famous and prolific Djadochta localities. The type specimen was discovered at the Flaming Cliffs site (sublocality of the larger Bayn Dzak locality/region),[2] while the "Fighting Dinosaurs" were found at the Tugrik Shire locality (also known as Tugrugeen Shireh and many other spellings).[5] The latter is notorious for its exceptional in situ fossil preservation. Based on deposits (such as structureless sandstones), it has been concluded that a large number of specimens were buried alive during powerful sand-bearing events, common to these paleoenvironments.[64]

Cultural significance

Main article: Velociraptors in Jurassic Park

The "Dinosaur Input Device" Velociraptor used for creating some of the CGI effects in Jurassic Park (left), and the design from the Jurassic World trilogy, Hong Kong (right)

Velociraptor is commonly perceived as a vicious and cunning killer thanks to their portrayal in the 1990 novel Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and its 1993 film adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg. The "raptors" portrayed in Jurassic Park were actually modeled after the closely related dromaeosaurid Deinonychus. Paleontologists in both the novel and film excavate a skeleton in Montana, far from the central Asian range of Velociraptor but characteristic of the Deinonychus range.[65] Crichton met with the discoverer of Deinonychus, John Ostrom, several times at Yale University to discuss details of the animal's possible range of behaviors and appearance. Crichton at one point apologetically told Ostrom that he had decided to use the name Velociraptor in place of Deinonychus because the former name was "more dramatic." According to Ostrom, Crichton stated that the Velociraptor of the novel was based on Deinonychus in almost every detail, and that only the name had been changed. The Jurassic Park filmmakers also requested all of Ostrom's published papers on Deinonychus during production.[66] They portrayed the animals with the size, proportions, and snout shape of Deinonychus rather than Velociraptor.[67][68]

Production on Jurassic Park began before the discovery of the large dromaeosaurid Utahraptor was made public in 1991, but as Jody Duncan wrote about this discovery: "Later, after we had designed and built the raptor, there was a discovery of a raptor skeleton in Utah, which they labeled 'super-slasher.' They had uncovered the largest Velociraptor to date and it measured five-and-a-half-feet tall, just like ours. So we designed it, we built it, and then they discovered it. That still boggles my mind."[67] Spielberg's name was briefly considered for naming of the new dinosaur in exchange for funding of field work, but no agreement was reached.[69]

Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park were released before the discovery that dromaeosaurs had feathers, so the Velociraptor in both films were depicted as scaled and featherless. For Jurassic Park III, the male Velociraptor was given quill-like structures along the back of the head and neck, but these structures do not resemble the feathers that Velociraptor would have had in reality due to reasons of continuity.[70] The Jurassic World sequel trilogy ignored the feathers of Velociraptor, adhering to the designs from Jurassic Park.[71] However, the dromaeosaur Pyroraptor was feathered for Jurassic World Dominion, along with other changes such as stiffening the tail to account for ossified tendons and de-pronating the hands.[72]

Velociraptor, facts and photos

Skip to contentNewslettersSubscribeMenuWeighing up to 100 pounds—about the size of a wolf—Velociraptors likely hunted solo as they roamed across central and eastern Asia in the late Cretaceous period.

Illustration by Stocktrek Images, Nat Geo Image CollectionSCIENCEEXPLAINERWhy Velociraptors are among the most misunderstood dinosaursHardly the vicious pack hunters depicted in Jurassic Park, these waist-high, feathered animals were more similar to modern birds of prey.ByAmy McKeeverNovember 18, 2020•6 min readVelociraptors have been misunderstood ever since they were featured in Jurassic Park as giant scaly dinosaurs that hunted in packs and disemboweled prey with sickle-shaped claws. That portrayal got several things wrong. Velociraptors were actually feathered animals. They grew up to 100 pounds, about the size of a wolf. And they likely hunted solo—using their claws to clutch rather than slash prey—when they roamed central and eastern Asia between about 74 million and 70 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.In fact, the raptors that terrorized Jurassic Park were based on a Velociraptor relative: Deinonychus antirrhopus, a much larger dinosaur that inhabited North America in the early Cretaceous period, about 145 to 100 million years ago.So what were Velociraptors really like? Although our knowledge is still growing as more fossil evidence is unearthed, paleontologists have managed to learn a lot about these iconic predators.Bird-like traitsThere’s strong consensus among scientists that today’s birds are actually dinosaurs, and that they evolved from theropods, a family of three-toed predators that included Velociraptor mongoliensis and Tyrannosaurus rex. This family connection explains why Velociraptors had many traits found in modern-day birds, including their hinged ankles, swivel-jointed wrists, wishbones, and forward-facing toes. Most notable, though, was their plumage.Researchers have long suspected that Velociraptors were feathered rather than covered with reptilian scales. In 2007, a study published in the journal Science found that a Velociraptor mongoliensis fossil had quill knobs—bumps along its forearm that anchor feather quills to the bone and are common in modern birds.Unlike many of its avian relatives, however, this dinosaur was Earth-bound. Not only were its arms too short for flying, but Velociraptor’s wishbone—a forked bone between the neck and breast that generally serves as a spring to help birds fly—wasn’t the right shape to support flapping wings. Instead, the 2007 study hypothesized that Velociraptor’s feathers might have been an evolutionary leftover from smaller ancestors that could fly, or they might have served to attract mates, shield nests from the cold, or maneuver while running.Still, Velociraptors are often likened to birds of prey such as eagles and hawks because of the long claw protruding from the second toe of each foot. Although scientists once theorized the claws may have been used for slashing, most now believe that the dinosaur used them to pierce and pin down prey as hawks do.HuntingGiven a Latin name that means “quick plunderer,” Velociraptors clearly were thought to have been effective hunters. The bipeds had an excellent sense of smell, evidenced by the size and shape of the part of their skulls that held olfactory bulbs, the part of the brain that processes scent. Their muscular legs and long shins allowed them to take long strides and reach speeds estimated to hit 24 miles an hour. By moving with their clawed toes lifted, Velociraptors kept their talons sharp enough to pierce prey; once it was in their grasp, they likely finished the job with a jaw full of serrated teeth.You May Also LikeSCIENCERare fossils reveal a stunning scene from the final days of the dinosaursSCIENCEFossils reveal a predator's desperate struggle to survive Earth's worst extinctionSCIENCEThe 11 most astonishing scientific discoveries of 2023In Jurassic Park, Velociraptors were depicted as pack hunters. But there’s little evidence that this was the case—in fact, quite the contrary. A 2007 study conducted chemical tests of Velociraptor relative Deinonychus’ teeth to find out whether the dinosaur’s young ate the same foods as adults. These tests revealed that the dinosaur’s diet changed as it aged—a dietary diversity that isn’t generally seen among pack animals.3:32Given the chance, this predator likely wouldn’t have hunted humans, either. Despite the famous fossilization of a battle to the death between a Velociraptor and a much-larger Protoceratops, paleontologists believe that Velociraptors mainly preyed on small mammals and reptiles. In 2011, scientists also theorized that these predators were nocturnal, as their scleral ring—a bony disc that reinforces the eye—was wide and would have let in enough light to see at night.Velociraptor also probably wasn’t as intelligent as popular culture has made it out to be. It’s true that this dinosaur had a large brain in proportion to its body, making it one of the more intelligent dinosaurs. But that’s a level of brainpower likely on par with average birds rather than the likes of chimps or parrots.Velociraptor evolutionScientists are still piecing together which ancestor species led to Velociraptor, as well as whether multiple types of Velociraptors existed. Velociraptor mongoliensis was first discovered in the Mongolian desert in 1924. In 2008, however, similar jaw bone fossils found in the same region puzzled paleontologists. These new fossils shared the same skull openings as Velociraptor, as well as a similar number of teeth. But their overall structure was distinct enough for scientists to describe a new species, Velociraptor osmolskae. Research into the life of this new and mysterious Velociraptor species is ongoing.More recently, scientists discovered Velociraptor’s oldest known relative: a three-foot-long fluffy dinosaur named Hesperornithoides miessleri. Covered in feathers and sporting a sickle-shaped claw on each foot, this little hunter lived in the late Jurassic period, about 164 million to 145 million years ago. Though Hesperornithoides miessleri was apparently unable to fly, its existence suggests that dinosaurs began to evolve feathers and wing-like arms millions of years before the first birds appeared.Velociraptor disappeared from the fossil record about 70 million years ago. A few million years later, a cataclysmic asteroid strike sparked an extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs.Related TopicsVELOCIRAPTOR MONGOLIENSISFOSSILSCRETACEOUS PERIODEXTINCTION EVENTSYou May Also LikeSCIENCEThe unlikely survival of ancient monkeys, swept across the Atlantic OceanSCIENCEWhat made 'terror birds' so terrifying? New fossil prints reveal killer claws.SCIENCEThe blue whale may no longer be the largest animal everANIMALSWho was the Coast Salish woolly dog? DNA testing provides some clues.SCIENCEDinosaur vs. mammal: 'Jaw-dropping' fossil reveals prehistoric battleGo FurtherAnimalsRare gray whale spotted in the Atlantic—and it's only the beginningAnimalsRare gray whale spotted in the Atlantic—and it's only the beginningWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaScienceWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaTermite fossils prove mating hasn't changed in 38 million yearsAnimalsTermite fossils prove mating hasn't changed in 38 million yearsPlay to find out which birds dominate at your feeder—and whyAnimalsPlay to find out which birds dominate at your feeder—and whyHow do fireflies get their glow? We finally have some answers.AnimalsHow do fireflies get their glow? We finally have some answers.Bird flu is spreading from pole to pole. Here’s why it matters.AnimalsBird flu is spreading from pole to pole. Here’s why it matters.EnvironmentWhy the 2024 hurricane season could be especially activeEnvironmentWhy the 2024 hurricane season could be especially activeMushroom leather? The future of fashion is closer than you think.EnvironmentMushroom leather? The future of fashion is closer than you think.This deadly fungus is hitchhiking its way across the worldEnvironmentThis deadly fungus is hitchhiking its way across the worldWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaScienceWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaThis exploding mine holds a treasure that may change the worldEnvironmentThis exploding mine holds a treasure that may change the worldHow animals are adapting to the rise of wildfiresEnvironmentHow animals are adapting to the rise of wildfiresHistory & CultureWho was the real Calamity Jane?History & CultureWho was the real Calamity Jane?See how these fierce dinos evolved in our pages over 100 yearsScienceSee how these fierce dinos evolved in our pages over 100 yearsHow did this female pharaoh survive being erased from history?History MagazineHow did this female pharaoh survive being erased from history?How Black artists helped make country music what it is todayHistory & CultureRace in AmericaHow Black artists helped make country music what it is todayThese 3 samurai women were heroes of shogun era JapanHistory & CultureThese 3 samurai women were heroes of shogun era JapanLincoln was killed before their eyes—then their own horror beganHistory & CultureLincoln was killed before their eyes—then their own horror beganScience'Exploding head syndrome'? Inside a mysterious sleep conditionScience'Exploding head syndrome'? Inside a mysterious sleep conditionWhat lifting weights does to your body—and your mindScienceMind, Body, WonderWhat lifting weights does to your body—and your mindMushroom leather? The future of fashion is closer than you think.EnvironmentMushroom leather? The future of fashion is closer than you think.Fungi could be the key to major cancer research breakthroughsScienceFungi could be the key to major cancer research breakthroughsWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaScienceWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaWhat is a lunar eclipse—and when will the next one happen?ScienceWhat is a lunar eclipse—and when will the next one happen?TravelKingston is making a comeback as culture capital of JamaicaTravelKingston is making a comeback as culture capital of JamaicaYou can watch wild horses roam free in this UK national parkTravelYou can watch wild horses roam free in this UK national parkWhere to stay in Zanzibar, Tanzania's 'spice island'TravelWhere to stay in Zanzibar, Tanzania's 'spice island'To see the real Los Angeles, visit its historic movie theatersTravelTo see the real Los Angeles, visit its historic movie theatersThis comedian went on a quest to find the end of the worldTravelThis comedian went on a quest to find the end of the worldHistory is alive on these European islandsTravelHistory is alive on these European islandsLegalTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyYour US State Privacy RightsChildren's Online Privacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsAbout Nielsen MeasurementDo Not Sell or Share My Personal InformationOur SitesNat Geo HomeAttend a Live EventBook a TripBuy MapsInspire Your KidsShop Nat GeoVisit the D.C. MuseumWatch TVLearn About Our ImpactSupport Our MissionMastheadPress RoomAdvertise With UsJoin UsSubscribeCustomer ServiceRenew SubscriptionManage Your SubscriptionWork at Nat GeoSign Up for Our NewslettersContribute to Protect the PlanetFollow usNational Geographic InstagramNational Geographic FacebookNational Geographic TwitterNational Geographic YoutubeNational Geographic LinkedinNational Geographic TiktokNational Geographic RedditUnited States (Change)Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

Velociraptor | Description, Size, Diet, & Facts | Britannica

Search Britannica

Click here to search

Search Britannica

Click here to search

Home

Games & Quizzes

History & Society

Science & Tech

Biographies

Animals & Nature

Geography & Travel

Arts & Culture

Money

Videos

On This Day

One Good Fact

Dictionary

New Articles

History & Society

Lifestyles & Social Issues

Philosophy & Religion

Politics, Law & Government

World History

Science & Tech

Health & Medicine

Science

Technology

Biographies

Browse Biographies

Animals & Nature

Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates

Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates

Environment

Fossils & Geologic Time

Mammals

Plants

Geography & Travel

Arts & Culture

Entertainment & Pop Culture

Literature

Sports & Recreation

Visual Arts

Companions

Demystified

Image Galleries

Infographics

Lists

Podcasts

Spotlights

Summaries

The Forum

10 Facts About the Velociraptor Dinosaur

Home

Science, Tech, Math

Science

Math

Social Sciences

Computer Science

Animals & Nature

Humanities

History & Culture

Visual Arts

Literature

English

Geography

Philosophy

Issues

Languages

English as a Second Language

Spanish

French

German

Italian

Japanese

Mandarin

Russian

Resources

For Students & Parents

For Educators

For Adult Learners

About Us

Search the site

Science, Tech, Math

Science

Math

Social Sciences

Computer Science

Animals & Nature

Humanities

History & Culture

Visual Arts

Literature

English

Geography

Philosophy

Issues

Languages

English as a Second Language

Spanish

French

German

Italian

Japanese

Mandarin

Russian

Resources

For Students & Parents

For Educators

For Adult Learners

About Us

Editorial Guidelines

Science, Tech, Math

›

Animals & Nature

10 Facts About the Velociraptor Dinosaur

ThoughtCo / Lara Antal

Animals & Nature

Dinosaurs

Carnivores

Basics

Paleontologists

Dinosaurs & Birds

Herbivores

Marine Reptiles

Prehistoric Mammals

Amphibians

Birds

Habitat Profiles

Mammals

Reptiles

Insects

Marine Life

Forestry

Evolution

Bob Strauss

Science Writer

B.S., Cornell University

Bob Strauss is a science writer and the author of several books, including "The Big Book of What, How and Why" and "A Field Guide to the Dinosaurs of North America."

Learn about our

Editorial Process

Updated on September 26, 2019

Thanks to the "Jurassic Park" and "Jurassic World" movies, the Velociraptor is one of the world's most well-known dinosaurs. However, there's a huge difference between the Hollywood version of the Velociraptor and the less imposing one familiar to paleontologists. How much do you really know about this surprisingly small, vicious predator?

of 10

Those Aren't Really Velociraptors in the 'Jurassic Park' Movies

It's a sad fact that the Velociraptor's claim to pop-culture fame in "Jurassic Park" is based on a lie. The special-effects wizards have long since confessed that they modeled their Velociraptor after the much bigger (and much more dangerous-looking) raptor Deinonychus antirrhopus, whose name isn't quite as catchy or as easy to pronounce and who lived about 30 million years before its more famous relative. "Jurassic World" had the chance to set the record straight, but it stuck with the big Velociraptor fib. If life were fair, Deinonychus would be a much better-known dinosaur than the Velociraptor, but that's the way the "Jurassic" amber crumbles.

of 10

Velociraptor Had Feathers, not Scaly, Reptilian Skin

Extrapolating from the smaller, more primitive, feathered raptors that predated it by millions of years, paleontologists believe Velociraptors sported feathers, too, due to having quill knobs, just like today's birds, on their bones where feathers would have attached. Artists have depicted this dinosaur as possessing everything from pale, colorless, chicken-like tufts to green plumage worthy of a South American parrot. Whatever the case, Velociraptor almost certainly wasn't lizard-skinned, as it's portrayed in the "Jurassic" movies. (Assuming Velociraptors needed to sneak up on their prey, we're on safer ground assuming that they weren't too brightly feathered.)

of 10

Velociraptor Was About the Size of a Big Chicken

For a dinosaur that's often mentioned in the same breath as Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor was remarkably puny. This meat-eater weighed only approximately 30 pounds soaking wet (about the same as a good-sized human toddler) and was just 2 feet tall and 6 feet long. In fact, it would take six or seven adult Velociraptors to equal one average-sized Deinonychus, 500 to match a full-grown Tyrannosaurus rex and 5,000 or so to equal the weight of one good-sized titanosaur —but who's counting? (Certainly not the people who script Hollywood movies.)

of 10

There's No Evidence That Velociraptors Hunted in Packs

To date, all of the dozen or so identified Velociraptor specimens have been of solitary individuals. The idea that Velociraptors ganged up on their prey in cooperative packs probably stems from the discovery of associated Deinonychus remains in North America. This larger raptor may have hunted in packs to bring down larger duck-billed dinosaurs such as Tenontosaurus, but there's no particular reason to extrapolate those findings to Velociraptor. But then again, there's no particular reason not to.

of 10

The Velociraptor's IQ Has Been Wildly Exaggerated

Remember that scene in "Jurassic Park " where a Velociraptor figures out how to turn a doorknob? Pure fantasy. Even the putatively smartest dinosaur of the Mesozoic Era, Troodon, was probably dumber than a newborn kitten, and it's a safe bet that no reptiles (extinct or extant) have ever learned how to use tools, with the possible exception of the American alligator. A real-life Velociraptor would likely have butted its head against that closed kitchen door until it knocked itself out and then its hungry pal would have feasted on its remains.

of 10

Velociraptors Lived in Central Asia, Not North America

Given its red-carpet treatment in Hollywood, you might expect Velociraptors to have been as American as apple pie, but the fact is that this dinosaur lived in what is now modern-day Mongolia about 70 million years ago (the most famous species is named Velociraptor mongoliensis). America Firsters in need of a native raptor will have to settle for Velociraptor's much bigger and much deadlier cousins Deinonychus and Utahraptor, the latter of which weighed as much as 1,500 pounds fully grown and was the largest raptor that ever lived.

of 10

Velociraptor's Main Weapons Were Its Single, Curved Hind Claws

Although its sharp teeth and clutching hands were certainly unpleasant, the go-to weapons in Velociraptor's arsenal were the single, curved, 3-inch-long claws on each of its hind feet, which it used to slash, jab, and disembowel prey. Paleontologists surmise that a Velociraptor stabbed its prey in the gut in sudden, surprise attacks, then withdrew to a safe distance as its victim bled to death (a strategy emulated millions of years later by the saber-toothed tiger, which leaped on its prey from the low branches of trees).

of 10

Velociraptor Wasn't as Speedy as Its Name Implies

The name Velociraptor translates from the Greek as "speedy thief," and it wasn't nearly as fast as contemporary ornithomimids or "bird mimic" dinosaurs, some of which could attain speeds of up to 40 or 50 mph. Even the fastest Velociraptors would have been severely hampered by their short, turkey-sized legs and could have easily been outrun by an athletic human child. It's possible, though, that these predators could have attained more "lift" in mid-stride with the aid of their presumably feathered arms.

of 10

Velociraptor Enjoyed Lunching on Protoceratops

Velociraptors weren't particularly big, smart, or speedy, so how did they survive the unforgiving ecosystem of late Cretaceous Central Asia? Well, by attacking comparably small dinosaurs such as the pig-sized Protoceratops. One famous fossil specimen preserves a Velociraptor and Protoceratops locked in life-and-death combat as they were both buried alive by a sudden sandstorm (and judging by the evidence, it's far from obvious that Velociraptor had the upper hand when they perished. It looks like Protoceratops got in some good licks and may even have been on the brink of breaking free).

of 10

Velociraptor May Have Been Warm-Blooded, Like Modern Mammals

Cold-blooded reptiles don't excel at actively pursuing and savagely attacking their prey (think of crocodiles patiently hovering underwater until a terrestrial animal ventures too close to the river's edge). That fact, combined with Velociraptor's probable coat of feathers, leads paleontologists to conclude that this raptor (and many other meat-eating dinosaurs, including tyrannosaurs and "dino-birds") possessed a warm-blooded metabolism comparable to those of modern birds and mammals—and was able to generate its own internal energy rather than relying entirely on the sun.

Cite this Article

Format

mla

apa

chicago

Your Citation

Strauss, Bob. "10 Facts About the Velociraptor Dinosaur." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/things-to-know-velociraptor-1093806.

Strauss, Bob. (2023, April 5). 10 Facts About the Velociraptor Dinosaur. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/things-to-know-velociraptor-1093806

Strauss, Bob. "10 Facts About the Velociraptor Dinosaur." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/things-to-know-velociraptor-1093806 (accessed March 12, 2024).

copy citation

10 Facts About Deinonychus, the Terrible Claw

10 Facts About Utahraptor, the World's Biggest Raptor

The Top 10 Famous Dinosaurs That Roamed the Earth

Facts About Oviraptor, the Egg Thief Dinosaur

Types of Raptor Dinosaurs

10 Facts About Dilophosaurus

Understanding Dinosaur Combat

10 Facts About Gigantoraptor

The 10 Smartest Dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era

10 Facts About Albertosaurus

How Fast Could Dinosaurs Run?

The 10 Best Dinosaur Names

Giganotosaurus, the Giant Southern Lizard

10 Facts About Deinocheirus, the "Terrible Hand" Dinosaur

Deadliest Dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era

10 Facts About Brachiosaurus, the Giraffe-Like Dinosaur

Home

Science, Tech, Math

Humanities

Languages

Resources

About Us

Advertise

Careers

Editorial Guidelines

Contact

ThoughtCo is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Please review our updated Terms of Service.

Velociraptor: Facts about the 'Speedy Thief' | Live Science

Open menu

Close menu

Live Science

Search Live Science

RSS

How It Works MagazineWhy subscribe?The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universeSubscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5'Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviewsIssues delivered straight to your door or deviceFrom$26.49View Deal

Space

Health

Planet Earth

Animals

Archaeology

Physics & Math

Human Behavior

Technology

Chemistry

Science news

About Us

Forum

Story archive

TrendingWoolly mammoth de-extinctionOldest 'dead' galaxyMinnesota helium reservoirShoebillApril 8 total solar eclipse

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Animals

Extinct Species

Dinosaurs

Velociraptor: Facts About the 'Speedy Thief'

References

By Joseph Castro published 18 March 2016

Velociraptor is one of the most bird-like dinosaurs ever discovered. It was small and fast, and the sickle-shaped claw on the second toe of each foot made it a formidable predator. A special bone in its wrist allowed it to swivel its wrist sideways in a flapping motion and to fold its arm against its body like a bird. This motion allowed it to snap its arms forward to grab fleeing prey and is an important part of the flight stroke in modern birds.

(Image credit: Todd Marshall)

Velociraptor roamed the Earth about 85.8 million to 70.6 million years ago during the end of the Cretaceous Period. In 1924, Henry Fairfield Osborn, then-president of the American Museum of Natural History, named Velociraptor. He bestowed the name on this dinosaur, which is derived from the Latin words "velox" (swift) and "raptor" (robber or plunderer), as an apt description of its agility and carnivorous diet. Earlier that year, Osborn had called the dinosaur Ovoraptor djadochtari in an article in the popular press, but the creature wasn't formally described in the article and the name "Ovoraptor" wasn't mentioned in a scientific journal, making Velociraptor the accepted name.There are two Velociraptor species, V. mongoliensis and V. osmolskae, the second of which was only identified in 2008.A member of the Dromaeosauridae family of small- to medium-sized birdlike dinosaurs, Velociraptor was roughly the size of a small turkey and smaller than others in this family of dinosaurs, which included Deinonychus and Achillobator. Adult Velociraptors grew up to 6.8 feet (2 meters) long, 1.6 feet (0.5 meter) tall at the hip and weighed up to 33 lbs. (15 kilograms).Like Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor had a prominent role in the "Jurassic Park" movies, but scientists do not believe it resembled anything close to its Hollywood depiction in terms of size or appearance. In fact, the movies' Velociraptor was actually modeled after Deinonychus, and sported a similar size and snout.While the Velociraptor was featherless in the movies, paleontologists discovered quill knobs (places where the flight-related feathers of birds are anchored to the bone) on a well-preserved Velociraptor forearm from Mongolia in 2007, indicating the dinosaur had feathers. Despite having feathers, however, the arms of Velociraptors were too short to allow them to fly or even glide. The find suggests that the dinosaurs' dromaeosaurid ancestors could fly at one point, but lost that ability, according to the study published in the journal Science. Artwork by Scott Hartman reveals the bone structure of Velociraptor. (Image credit: © Scott Hartman / All rights reserved)Velociraptor retained its feathers, and possibly used them to attract mates, regulate body temperature, protect eggs from the environment or generate thrust and speed while running up inclines.Velociraptor had a relatively large skull , which was about 9.1 inches (23 centimeters) long, concave on the upper surface and convex on the lower surface, according to a 1999 description of a Velociraptor skull, published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. Additionally, its snout was long, narrow and shallow, and made up about 60 percent of the dinosaur's entire skull length.Velociraptor had 13 to 15 teeth in its upper jaw and 14 to 15 teeth in its lower jaw. These teeth were widely spaced and serrated, though more strongly on the back edge than the front.Velociraptor's tail of hard, fused bones was inflexible, but likely kept it balanced as it ran, hunted and jumped. Velociraptor, like other dromaeosaurids, had two large hand-like appendages with three curved claws. They also had a sickle-shaped talon on the second toe of each foot. They normally kept these talons off the ground like folded switchblades, and used them as hooks to keep their prey from escaping (similar to modern birds of prey), according to a study published in 2011 in the journal PLOS ONE. What did Velociraptor eat?Velociraptor was a carnivore that hunted and scavenged for food. "It spent the vast majority of the time eating small things," which likely included reptiles, amphibians, insects, small dinosaurs and mammals, said David Hone, a paleontologist at Queen Mary University of London. Velociraptor, which means "speedy thief," had a sharp, deadly, sickle-shaped, retractable, 3.5-inch (9 cm) claw on each foot (located on each second toe). The Velociraptor may have been able to run up to roughly 40 mph (60 km/hr) for short bursts. This predator may have hunted in packs. (Image credit: Courtesy American Museum of Natural History)The fast predator also appears to have had a complicated relationship with Protoceratops, a sheep-sized herbivore and ancestor to Triceratops. In 1971, a Polish-Mongolian team discovered the famous "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen — fossils of a Velociraptor and Protoceratops locked in a death grip, in which the Velociraptor embedded one of its foot claws into the neck of the Protoceratops while the Protoceratops bit down on (and probably broke) one of the Velociraptor's arms.Preserved in sand deposits after being buried from a collapsing sand dune or sudden sandstorm, the pair proved that Velociraptors hunted for food, but an attack on such a large animal probably wasn't common. "Few predators ever take on prey bigger than 50 percent of their body mass," Hone told Live Science, adding that the Velociraptor could have been starving or simply "young and dumb."But that's not to say Velociraptor didn't frequently eat Protoceratops carcasses. In 2008, researchers unearthed Protoceratops fossils marred with marks and grooves matching raptor teeth, as well as two teeth that belonged either to Velociraptor or another dromaeosaurid. After analyzing the remains, Hone and his colleagues determined that the raptor didn't kill the plant-eater. Instead, it fed on the Protoceratops, which likely had little meat left on it (hence the bite marks on the herbivore's jaws and raptor's knocked-out teeth), according to the study, published 2010 in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.In 2012, Hone and his colleagues also discovered that Velociraptors sometimes ate pterosaurs, when the team found a large pterosaur bone in the guts of a Velociraptor. The pterosaur had a wingspan of about 6.5 feet (2 m) and may have been a formable foe even if it were sick and injured, suggesting the Velociraptor most likely scavenged the pterosaur bone, Hone said. Learn about the horns, bones, habitat and other secrets of Velociraptor. (Image credit: Ross Toro, Livescience contributor) Fossil discoveriesThe first Velociraptor fossil was discovered by Peter Kaisen on the first American Museum of Natural History expedition to the Outer Mongolian Gobi Desert in August 1923. The fossil consisted of a skull that was crushed but complete and a toe claw.Velociraptor fossils have been found in the Gobi Desert, which covers southern Mongolia and parts of northern China. Velociraptor mongoliensis have only been discovered in the Djadochta (Djadokhta) Formation, which is in the Mongolian province of Ömnögovi. Velociraptor osmolskae was discovered at the Bayan Mandahu Formation in Inner Mongolia, China. The species was described based on a partial adult skull. [Image Gallery: Dinosaur Fossils]Like the "Fighting Dinosaurs," other Velociraptor fossils were found in arid sand dune environments. Related pagesA Brief History of DinosaursMore dinosaursAllosaurus: Facts About the 'Different Lizard'Ankylosaurus: Facts About the Armored DinosaurApatosaurus: Facts About the 'Deceptive Lizard'Archaeopteryx: Facts about the Transitional FossilBrachiosaurus: Facts About the Giraffe-like DinosaurDiplodocus: Facts About the Longest DinosaurGiganotosaurus: Facts about the 'Giant Southern Lizard'Pterodactyl, Pteranodon & Other Flying 'Dinosaurs'Spinosaurus: The Largest Carnivorous DinosaurStegosaurus: Bony Plates & Tiny BrainTriceratops: Facts about the Three-horned DinosaurTyrannosaurus Rex: Facts about T. Rex, King of the Dinosaurs Time periodsPrecambrian: Facts About the Beginning of TimePaleozoic Era: Facts & InformationCambrian Period: Facts & InformationSilurian Period Facts: Climate, Animals & PlantsDevonian Period: Climate, Animals & PlantsPermian Period: Climate, Animals & PlantsMesozoic Era: Age of the DinosaursTriassic Period Facts: Climate, Animals & PlantsJurassic Period FactsCretaceous Period: Facts About Animals, Plants & ClimateCenozoic Era: Facts About Climate, Animals & Plants Quaternary Period: Climate, Animals & Other Facts Pleistocene Epoch: Facts About the Last Ice AgeHolocene Epoch: The Age of ManAdditional resourcesUniversity of California Museum of Paleontology: The DromaeosauridaeWorldwide Museum of Natural History: A Raptor Named Bambi

Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter nowGet the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Joseph CastroSocial Links NavigationLive Science ContributorJoseph Bennington-Castro is a Hawaii-based contributing writer for Live Science and Space.com. He holds a master's degree in science journalism from New York University, and a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Hawaii. His work covers all areas of science, from the quirky mating behaviors of different animals, to the drug and alcohol habits of ancient cultures, to new advances in solar cell technology. On a more personal note, Joseph has had a near-obsession with video games for as long as he can remember, and is probably playing a game at this very moment.

More about dinosaursStunning 240 million-year-old 'Chinese dragon' fossil unveiled by scientists'Cut down in their prime': Dinosaurs were thriving in Africa before the asteroid hitLatestSpace photo of the week: Can you spot the hidden robot on the slopes of Mars?See more latest ►

Most PopularDo ears and noses get bigger with age?By Anna GoraDecember 27, 2023Why do lips get so chapped in winter?By Anna GoraDecember 26, 2023Can drinking alcohol really cause hiccups?By Anna GoraDecember 25, 2023Why is it safe to eat moldy cheese?By Emily CookeDecember 23, 2023What is frankincense?By Victoria AtkinsonDecember 22, 2023Why is pink eye so contagious?By Anna GoraDecember 16, 2023Can you really be allergic to the sun?By Anna GoraDecember 15, 2023What causes spotting between periods?By Anna GoraNovember 09, 2023Do redheads really need more anesthesia?By Donavyn CoffeyNovember 06, 2023How does plaque cause cavities?By Anna GoraOctober 31, 2023What does it look like when your sinuses are clogged?By Anna GoraOctober 26, 2023

MOST READMOST SHARED1Astronomers find heaviest black hole pair in the universe, and they've been trapped in an endless duel for 3 billion years2Shoebill: The human-sized African bird that eats baby crocodiles and kills its siblings3Woolly mammoth de-extinction inches closer after elephant stem cell breakthrough4AI drone that could hunt and kill people built in just hours by scientist 'for a game'5Scientists just discovered a massive reservoir of helium beneath Minnesota1A branch of the flu family tree has died and won't be included in future US vaccines2Life-threatening 'leaks' after surgery could be flagged faster with tiny new device3Mystery of enormous Saharan 'star dune' finally solved — and it wasn't what scientists were expecting4Giant ball of Burmese pythons having sex discovered in Florida Everglades in record-breaking catch5Colossus the enormous 'oddball' whale is not the biggest animal to ever live, scientists say

Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

About Us

Contact Future's experts

Terms and conditions

Cookies policy

Accessibility Statement

Advertise with us

Web notifications

Careers

Editorial standards

How to pitch a story to us

Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,

New York,

NY 10036.

Vicious Velociraptor: tales of a turkey-sized dinosaur | Natural History Museum

Accept cookies?

We use cookies to give you the best online experience and to show personalised content and marketing. We use them to improve our website and content as well as to tailor our digital advertising on third-party platforms. You can change your preferences at any time.

Manage my preferences

Yes, accept all

Visit

The Museum at South Kensington

The Museum at Tring

Back

The Museum at South Kensington

Back

The Museum at South Kensington

Plan your visit

What's on

Explore the

Museum

Access

The Museum at Tring

Back

The Museum at Tring

Getting here

What's on

Explore the

Museum

Access

Discover

Back

Discover

News

Anthropocene

British wildlife

Collections

Dinosaurs

Human evolution

Oceans

Space

What on Earth?

Video

Take part

Join and support

Back

Join and support

Membership

Make a donation

Patrons

Corporate partnerships

Shop

Schools

Our

science

Back

Deworm3

About

Who we are

Objectives

Achievements

Research tool kit

Publications

News

Membership

Donate

Popular search terms:

British

wildlife

Wildlife

Photographer of the Year

Dinosaurs

Space

Explore the Museum

Discover

News

Anthropocene

British Wildlife

Collections

Dinosaurs

Human evolution

Oceans

What on Earth?

Video

Discover

News

Anthropocene

British Wildlife

Collections

Dinosaurs

Human evolution

Oceans

What on Earth?

Video

There are currently two known Velociraptor species. The genus Velociraptor was named by scientists in 1924, with the first species found in Mongolia and called Velociraptor mongoliensis. The second species, Velociraptor osmolskae was found in China and only named in 2008.

Read later

Beta

During Beta

testing articles may only be saved for seven days.

Create a list of articles to read later. You will be able to access your list from any article in Discover.

You don't have any saved articles.

+ add current

article to list

DINOSAURS

Vicious Velociraptor: tales of a turkey-sized dinosaur

By Lisa Hendry

144

Star of Jurassic World, established brawler and owner of a killer claw, Velociraptor has quite a reputation. But how much of it is deserved?

Since the discovery of the first Velociraptor fossil on 11 August 1923 in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, we've learnt a lot about this turkey-sized predator. Museum dinosaur researcher Dr David Button tells us more.

Velociraptor claws were not disembowelling tools

The first Velociraptor fossil found by scientists was an impressive claw, unearthed alongside a complete but crushed skull on an American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) expedition to Mongolia.

The first Velociraptor fossils - a skull and the fearsome curved claw. These drawings were published by Henry Fairfield Osborn in his 1924 description of the new dinosaur. Image courtesy of the AMNH digital library.

Henry Fairfield Osborn, then AMNH president, published a description of the finds in 1924, but he assumed the large, curved claw was from the hand.

We now know it belonged to the second toe of Velociraptor's foot. It was a predator's perfect weapon and could grow to more than 6.5 centimetres around its outer edge.

'People have traditionally thought of the foot claw as a disembowelling tool,' says David, 'but it wouldn't really work like that.

'Palaeontologists built a mechanical model of the claw for BBC documentary The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs and they couldn't get it to disembowel things.'

Instead, research suggests that the razor-sharp claw was used for stabbing, not slashing, and it was probably used as a hook to prevent prey from escaping.

A palaeoart reconstruction of Velociraptor restraining a juvenile oviraptorosaur. Scientists think Velociraptor restrained its prey in a similar way to eagles, using its talons. © Durbed, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

David elaborates, 'If you look at the claw it looks just like the talon of an eagle, which is used to grip prey and pin it down. Velociraptor probably used its sickle-shaped talon in the same way to injure, subdue and grip its prey, before dispatching it with its jaws.'

Did Velociraptor tap its claws?

Could the claw have any other purpose? Jurassic Park - which brought Velociraptor into the limelight - included an unsettling scene where the dinosaur tapped its claw on the ground to help it locate prey - in this case, children. But was there any scientific basis for this?

Scientists know that dromaeosaurid dinosaurs like Velociraptor walked with only two toes on the ground. The famous sickle claw was held up in the air, which would have helped keep it sharp.

Just like Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor was a theropod dinosaur. Reptiles in this group typically had three toes on each foot. But unlike T. rex, Velociraptor only walked on two of these toes, keeping the third held up in the air.

'Whenever we find tracks from Velociraptor and its dromaeosaur relatives, there are no little marks made by the sickle-shaped claw. This tells us the dinosaur kept it elevated off the ground, presumably to keep it sharp.

'No evidence of toe-tapping behaviour has been found. I think it was just a cinematic ploy to make them look alert and more scary.'

Did Velociraptor have feathers?

If we were to encounter Velociraptor today, chances are we'd find it disturbing enough, regardless of its size.

David thinks it would seem like an unusual bird of prey - a large one that had been stretched out, but with a very long tail, clawed hands and teeth (not a beak).

Velociraptor was a bit like an odd-looking bird of prey with a toothy mouth, claws on wing-like arms and a long tail. It was about the size of a Thanksgiving turkey. © Matt Martyniuk, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

'It's one of the reasons I think it's a shame they don't put feathers on Velociraptor in the Jurassic Park movies,' he says. 'They'd actually be much creepier because it would be something we recognise but a bit wrong.

'I think it's quite useful to think of Velociraptor like a land eagle as they're very similar to eagles in many ways and it's reasonable to expect they would have behaved similarly as well.

'It wouldn't have been particularly nice to meet - I wouldn't want to meet a grounded eagle, let alone one that's used to being on the ground.'

We know Velociraptor's body was covered in feathers as close relatives, including Microraptor and Zhenyuanlong, have been found with preserved feathers.

This fossil of Zhenyuanlong, a dromaeosaur named in 2015, includes preserved imprints of feathers

In 2007, the discovery of quill knobs on a Velociraptor fossil proved that this dinosaur had long feathers attaching from its second finger and up its arms.

Could Velociraptor fly?

Despite its wing-like arms, Velociraptor wouldn't have been able to fly.

'It didn't have the apparatus needed to get an animal of its size off the ground,' explains David.

'Although it had a wishbone (fused collarbone) like in modern birds, it wasn't the shape needed to support flapping wings.

'The size and shape of Velociraptor's arms meant its wings weren't big enough for it to glide, either. And it had symmetrical feathers, not the asymmetrical ones seen in modern flying birds.'

Given that Velociraptor was flightless, what were the feathers for? Potentially for display - to help attract mates - and to keep it warm.

Velociraptor's feathered body would have kept it warm. The longer arm feathers may have been used in mating displays or to cover eggs while brooding. Although this model shows the hands sticking out from feathery arms, comparison with birds suggests the plumes would attach from the second finger.

David says, 'There's quite good evidence for dromaeosaurs having elevated metabolisms. If you're generating a lot of warmth, if you lose it you're wasting loads of energy. Feathers would stop dromaeosaurs losing energy and keep them warm.'

Another suggestion is that Velociraptor used its feathered arms to cover their nests while brooding.

'We have specimens of some oviraptorosaurs, which are relatively closely related to Velociraptor, which are preserved brooding over their eggs like a chicken,' elaborates David.

Palaeoart reconstruction of the oviraptorosaur Nemegtomaia nesting, based on a fossil that shows a clutch of eggs with an adult on top in brooding position. Scientists think Velociraptor may have behaved in a similar way. © FunkMonk, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

'Velociraptor and its ilk are actually more closely related to birds than Oviraptor and its kind are. So unless this brooding posture arose independently in oviraptorosaurs - which is possible - presumably it evolved in the common ancestor of all these animals, making it likely that Velociraptor would have brooded its eggs in a similar way.'

Unfortunately no fossils proving this have been found. We do have fossils showing other Velociraptor behaviour, however.

Velociraptor fighting Protoceratops

A famous fossil of Velociraptor shows it locked in combat with Protoceratops. These dinosaurs both lived during the Cretaceous Period, some 74-70 million years ago.

David says, 'This is a very interesting specimen because it gives us a snapshot of dinosaur behaviour - something we very rarely have.'

It is the most dramatic evidence that has been found of two dinosaurs fighting.

The famous fighting dinosaurs specimen from Mongolia shows Velociraptor and the early ceratopsian Protoceratops engaged in battle © Yuya Tamai, licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The specimen captures the two dinosaurs in the midst of a battle. As David describes, 'The Velociraptor's deadly foot claw is in the Protoceratops's throat, and the Velociraptor's arm is crushed in the Protoceratops's mouth.'

It appears they were preserved in this pose because they were buried by a sandstorm or collapsing sand dune in the middle of their struggle.

While it is a thrilling depiction of a dinosaur battle, David says it's hard to determine why the animals were fighting.

Was the Velociraptor hunting the Protoceratops? If so, it was probably desperate or inexperienced.

David explains, 'It's an oversimplification, but generally if two animals have a fight, the bigger one will win.

'Carnivores tend to only attack something larger if it's sick, injured or old. They don't want to risk injury themselves as it could be fatal - a broken leg, for example, would stop it being able to hunt.'

In this case the two animals were similar lengths, but Protoceratops was much bulkier.

The Velociraptor lacks feathers in this artist's impression, but the drawing effectively illustrates that Protoceratops was a daunting opponent © Chiappe LM (2003) A Field Trip to the Mesozoic. PLoS Biol 1(2): e40

Perhaps it was Protoceratops that provoked the attack, speculates David. Protoceratops might have been quite aggressive, particularly if it saw the other dinosaur as a threat.

He adds, 'All we can say with some certainty is that these two dinosaurs had a fight before they were engulfed in sand.'

Find out more about how dinosaur fossils form.

What did Velociraptor eat?

Because of this famous fossil, Velociraptor is often seen as the perpetual enemy of Protoceratops. But it seems very unlikely that Velociraptor would have habitually preyed upon it, says David.

Velociraptor probably mostly fed on relatively small mammals and reptiles that would have been easy to overpower and kill. That said, it may have occasionally hunted small, infant dinosaurs. In Mongolia, where Velociraptor lived, this could have included young Protoceratops as well as baby Oviraptor and the pachycephalosaur Prenocephale.

Like lizards and crocodiles alive today, Velociraptor's teeth were replaced throughout its life, ensuring they stayed sharp. Its teeth curved backwards - useful for gripping prey to prevent it from escaping from its mouth. © Smokeybjb, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Velociraptor's narrow jaws and relatively light build support the idea it fed on quite small prey.

Large flying reptile on the menu

Another special fossil has preserved part of a Velociraptor's meal inside its body: a broken bone belonging to a pterosaur.

Scientists estimate that the flying reptile would have had a wingspan around three metres wide - larger than the relatively small Velociraptor that ate it.

Some pterosaurs were giants and feasted on dinosaurs. The one eaten by Velociraptor was relatively small, but its wingspan was still around 3m across. © 2008 Witton, Naish, licensed under CC BY 3.0 from PLoS ONE

It would have been a challenging and probably dangerous animal for a young Velociraptor to hunt.

Instead, palaeontologists concluded that Velociraptor was more likely to have scavenged the bone. The fact that the dinosaur ate a large bone also suggests there wasn't much meat left on the carcass.

This may have been relatively unusual behaviour, though.

David explains, 'Pretty much all predators scavenge sometimes, and vice versa. However, Velociraptor lacks the attributes of an animal that relies mostly on scavenging. You'd expect such an animal to be relatively large - able to drive other animals off a kill - and you'd expect it to have very powerful jaws for biting though bone.'

Instead, most of Velociraptor's anatomy seems consistent with it being quite an effective hunter.

Velociraptor's body was suited to hunting © Ben Townsend, licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

David adds, 'Velociraptor's lithe build indicates it was agile, and its clawed hands and feet would have made effective tools for capturing prey. Although slender, its jaws would have been capable of rapid, snapping bites, also allowing it to catch and subdue nimble prey.

'But I doubt it would have turned down the opportunity to feast on a dead animal.'

How fast was Velociraptor?

Did Velociraptor live up to its speedy reputation?

'You can get a rough idea of how suited an animal is to running by the relative length of its thigh and shin, says David. 'A longer shin will increase your stride length, and you'll be faster.'

Velociraptor had quite big legs for its size and they were quite muscular. Its agility was also helped by a long, stiff tail that helped steer at high speeds.

Evidence suggests Velociraptor could run quickly. It had quite big, muscular legs, with relatively long shins and a long, stiff tail that helped it manoeuvre. © Fred Wierum, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

'Based on a study that modelled the speed of various dinosaurs, I'd expect Velociraptor to be able to run at over 40 kilometres per hour, at least in short bursts - faster than the fastest human.

'It would have been quite fast by dinosaur standards - rather fortunate given its name means quick or swift - but not the fastest. That accolade goes to the ornithomimosaurs, which had very long shins and are thought to have been able to run as fast as the ostriches they resemble.'

But importantly for Velociraptor it would have been a lot faster than its common prey. Small animals have got quite short stride lengths and if it was snatching young Protoceratops they'd have been nowhere near that speed.

Based on the large sclerotic ring (a bone inside the eye) of Velociraptor, some scientists have suggested that this dinosaur was nocturnal © Eduard Solà Vázquez, licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons (skull cropped from fossil skeleton image)

Did Velociraptor hunt in packs?

Despite the common depiction of raptors as cooperative pack hunters, there's very little evidence for such behaviour.

The idea was based on the discovery of the remains of multiple Deinonychus individuals around a single Tenontosaurus, a much larger herbivore. But the predators could just as easily have been scavenging, or all the dinosaurs could have simply been swept up by water and buried together. More recently, multiple Utahraptor have been found with the herbivore Hippodraco, likely after becoming stuck in quicksand.

Palaeoartist Julius Csotonyi tells us: 'Inspired by research led by Dr James Kirkland, this image reenacts a moment in the last few hours of life of a pack of Utahraptor and the Hippodraco that lured them to their miry fate in a patch of quicksand.' © The Paleoart of Julius Csotonyi published by Titan Books

David says, 'For Velociraptor-sized dinosaurs there are some trackways of multiple individuals moving in the same direction, but this could signify the dinosaurs flocking (moving in a crowd) or following. There's no particular evidence of pack hunting.

'Some modern hawks hunt cooperatively and several modern reptiles, including komodo dragons, hunt in a manner called mobbing - whereby one will attack an animal and then others will opportunistically join in. That's also seen in many birds of prey.

'There isn't currently any evidence for communal hunting of any kind for Velociraptor, although that doesn't mean it didn't happen.'

Well-known dromaeosaurs and their relative sizes. From left to right after the human silhouette: Microraptor, Velociraptor, Austroraptor, Dromaeosaurus, Utahraptor and Deinonychus. The largest known member of the family, Utahraptor, is thought to have been about the size of a polar bear, reaching 5-6m in length. © Fred Wierum, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Was Velociraptor smart?

While Velociraptor was quite smart for a dinosaur, it doesn't quite live up to its Jurassic Park franchise's portrayal as a cunning reptile that could outwit humans.

David explains, 'We can get a rough idea of the intelligence of an animal by the size of its brain relative to its body. We call this measure the encephalisation quotient.

'There's a weird urban myth that Velociraptor has a higher encephalisation quotient than humans. It clearly doesn't.

'However, the size of Velociraptor's brain in proportion to its body is relatively high compared to most reptiles, including most other dinosaurs, so it seems likely it was comparatively clever.

'Velociraptor was not smart like a chimp, or even a parrot or crow. But it was smart like an average bird - a hawk or something like that.'

Discover more dinosaur myths and movie misconceptions.

144

Dinosaurs

Feature

Fossils

Prehistoric

Discover dinosaurs

Find out what Museum scientists are revealing about how dinosaurs looked, lived and behaved.

Dig up dino facts

Dino Directory

Explore more than 300 dinosaurs by name, shape or when and where they lived.

Discover more

Dinosaurs

What dinosaur are you?

Take our quiz to find out which dinosaur you're most like - could it be the terrifying T. rex or the placid Plateosaurus?

Dinosaurs

Debunking dinosaur myths and movie misconceptions

Not everything you've been led to believe about dinosaurs is true.

Dinosaurs

Can we bring back dinosaurs?

Is a mosquito trapped in amber really the way to bring dinosaurs back from the dead?

Dinosaurs

Beyond Jurassic World: what we really know about dinosaurs and how

What's the next best thing to studying prehistoric dinosaurs in the flesh?

Don't miss a thing

Receive email updates about our news, science, exhibitions, events, products, services and fundraising activities. We may occasionally include third-party content from our corporate partners and other museums. We will not share your personal details with these third parties. You must be over the age of 13. Privacy notice.

First name

Surname

Email address

The Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road

London SW7 5BD

Map

See our opening hours

The Natural History Museum at Tring

Akeman Street

Tring

Hertfordshire HP23 6AP

Map

See our opening hours

Visit

What's on

Galleries and Museum map

Access

Discover

News

Anthropocene

British wildlife

Collections

Dinosaurs

Human evolution

Oceans

Space

What on Earth?

Video

For schools

Visiting South Kensington

Visiting Tring

Learning resources

Careers

Current vacancies

Join and support

Membership

Gift membership

Make a donation

Become a Patron

Corporate partnerships

Take part

Volunteer

Citizen science

Identify UK nature

Centre for UK Biodiversity

About us

News

Press office

Governance

Online shop

Our science

Research

Collections

Datasets

People

Facilities

Study and events

Library and archives

Business services

Touring exhibitions

Consulting

Publishing

Film locations

NHM images

Venue hire

Licensing

Legal

Cookie preferences

Privacy notice

Website accessibility statement

Terms and conditions

Modern Slavery Statement

Opens in a new window

Velociraptor

Skip to contentSearchShopGamesPuzzlesActionFunny Fill-InVideosAmazing AnimalsWeird But True!Party AnimalsTry This!AnimalsMammalsBirdsPrehistoricReptilesAmphibiansInvertebratesFishExplore MoreMagazinehistoryScienceSpaceU.S. StatesWeird But True!SubscribemenuVelociraptors probably fed mostly on small lizards, mammals, and even baby dinosaurs and eggs.Illustration by Franco TempestaPlease be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.AnimalsPrehistoricVelociraptorIt had feathers, but this dino couldn’t fly.ByElizabeth HilfrankA pack of two-legged creatures sprints across a desert about 70 million years ago. The dinos are each about six feet from the tip of their noses to the end of their long tails, but they’re only about as tall as a turkey. The group spots a Protoceraptops, an older cousin of Triceratops. Running 24 miles an hour, about as fast as a professional bicycle racer, the pack works together to chase the herbivore, jump on top of it, and grip the prey with two-inch-long claws. Then they feast using their 60 serrated teeth.Desert darterVelociraptor lived in what’s now called the Gobi Desert in Mongolia—it’s one of the few places on Earth that has nearly the same habitat now as it did during the time of the dinosaurs. In addition to larger dinos, this small carnivore likely also snacked on little lizards, mammals, dino eggs, and baby dinosaurs. It might’ve even eaten other baby Velociraptors. Scientists named this dino using the Greek words meaning “quick thief” for the way it might have stolen its meals.Experts think Velociraptor was probably one of the smarter dinosaurs because it has a large brain in proportion to its body size. And based on the size of the part of the skull that holds the scent-processing part of the brain, experts think Velociraptor had an excellent sense of smell.Feathered friendRecent research on one of the species, Velociraptor mongoliensis, has found that Velociraptor was a feathered dinosaur. But it couldn’t fly—its forelimbs were too short. Instead, the plumage might’ve been used to keep it warm and attract mates, just as modern birds use their colorful feathers. Also like birds, Velociraptor had hollow bones and tended nests of eggs.Watch Dino Road TripAnchiornisAli and Sean travel back 150 million years to the Jurassic period to get a look at a flying dinosaur called the Anchiornis. Tour guide Simon reveals that this dinosaur actually had feathers!Watch Dino Road TripNow Playing2:32AnchiornisUp Next2:08TylosaurusNow Playing2:25SpinosaurusNow Playing2:42T. RexMore dinosDinosaursGet news, facts, games, and more!Dino Death PitRead about the dinosaurs uncovered in this story from Nat Geo Kids.Amazing dino discoveriesPaleontologists are constantly learning new things about these ancient animals—in fact, scientists find more than 45 new dinosaur species each year! Check back here for all the latest dinosaur news.Letter PredatorPuzzlesLetter PredatorGuess the letters to spell out the secret words.LegalTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy RightsChildren's Online Privacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsAbout Nielsen MeasurementDo Not Sell My InfoOur SitesNational GeographicNational Geographic EducationShop Nat GeoCustomer ServiceJoin UsSubscribeManage Your Subscription Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

Why Velociraptors are among the most misunderstood dinosaurs | National Geographic

Velociraptors are among the most misunderstood dinosaurs | National GeographicMagazinesTV ScheduleDisney+National GeographicNational GeographicNational GeographicScienceTravelAnimalsCulture & HistoryEnvironmentScienceTravelAnimalsCulture & HistoryEnvironmentScienceWhy Velociraptors are among the most misunderstood dinosaursHardly the vicious pack hunters depicted in Jurassic Park, these waist-high, feathered animals were more similar to modern birds of prey.By Amy McKeeverPublished 18 Nov 2020, 16:40 GMTWeighing up to 100 pounds—about the size of a wolf—Velociraptors likely hunted solo as they roamed across central and eastern Asia in the late Cretaceous period.

Photograph by Illustration by Stocktrek Images, Nat Geo Image CollectionVelociraptors have been misunderstood ever since they were featured in Jurassic Park as burly, scaly dinosaurs that hunted in packs and disembowelled prey with sickle-shaped claws. That portrayal got several things wrong. Velociraptors were actually feathered animals. They grew up to 100 pounds, about the size of a wolf. And they likely hunted solo—using their claws to clutch rather than slash prey—when they roamed central and eastern Asia between about 74 million and 70 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.

In fact, the 'raptors' that terrorised Jurassic Park were based on a Velociraptor relative: Deinonychus antirrhopus, a much larger dinosaur that inhabited North America in the early Cretaceous period, about 145 to 100 million years ago.

So what were Velociraptors really like? Although our knowledge is still growing as more fossil evidence is unearthed, palaeontologists have managed to learn a lot about these iconic predators.

Bird-like traits

There’s strong consensus among scientists that today’s birds are actually dinosaurs, and that they evolved from theropods, a family of three-toed predators that included Velociraptor mongoliensis and Tyrannosaurus rex. This family connection explains why Velociraptors had many traits found in modern-day birds, including their hinged ankles, swivel-jointed wrists, wishbones, and forward-facing toes. Most notable, though, was their plumage.

Researchers have long suspected that Velociraptors were feathered rather than covered with reptilian scales. In 2007, a study published in the journal Science found that a Velociraptor mongoliensis fossil had quill knobs—bumps along its forearm that anchor feather quills to the bone and are common in modern birds.

Unlike many of its avian relatives, however, this dinosaur was Earth-bound. Not only were its arms too short for flying, but Velociraptor’s wishbone—a forked bone between the neck and breast that generally serves as a spring to help birds fly—wasn’t the right shape to support flapping wings. Instead, the 2007 study hypothesised that Velociraptor’s feathers might have been an evolutionary leftover from smaller ancestors that could fly, or they might have served to attract mates, shield nests from the cold, or manoeuvre while running.

Still, Velociraptors are often likened to birds of prey such as eagles and hawks because of the long claw protruding from the second toe of each foot. Although scientists once theorised the claws may have been used for slashing, most now believe that the dinosaur used them to pierce and pin down prey as hawks do.

Hunting

Given a Latin name that means “quick plunderer,” Velociraptors clearly were thought to have been effective hunters. The bipeds had an excellent sense of smell, evidenced by the size and shape of the part of their skulls that held olfactory bulbs, the part of the brain that processes scent. Their muscular legs and long shins allowed them to take long strides and reach speeds estimated to hit 24 miles an hour. By moving with their clawed toes lifted, Velociraptors kept their talons sharp enough to pierce prey; once it was in their grasp, they likely finished the job with a jaw full of serrated teeth.

In Jurassic Park, Velociraptors were depicted as pack hunters. But there’s little evidence that this was the case—in fact, quite the contrary. A 2007 study conducted chemical tests of Velociraptor relative Deinonychus’ teeth to find out whether the dinosaur’s young ate the same foods as adults. These tests revealed that the dinosaur’s diet changed as it aged—a dietary diversity that isn’t generally seen among pack animals.

Given the chance, this predator likely wouldn’t have hunted humans, either. Despite the famous fossilisation of a battle to the death between a Velociraptor and a much-larger Protoceratops, palaeontologists believe that Velociraptors mainly preyed on small mammals and reptiles. In 2011, scientists also theorised that these predators were nocturnal, as their scleral ring—a bony disc that reinforces the eye—was wide and would have let in enough light to see at night.

Velociraptor also probably wasn’t as intelligent as popular culture has made it out to be. It’s true that this dinosaur had a large brain in proportion to its body, making it one of the more intelligent dinosaurs. But that’s a level of brainpower likely on par with average birds rather than the likes of chimps or parrots.

Velociraptor evolution

Scientists are still piecing together which ancestor species led to Velociraptor, as well as whether multiple types of Velociraptors existed. Velociraptor mongoliensis was first discovered in the Mongolian desert in 1924. In 2008, however, similar jaw bone fossils found in the same region puzzled palaeontologists. These new fossils shared the same skull openings as Velociraptor, as well as a similar number of teeth. But their overall structure was distinct enough for scientists to describe a new species, Velociraptor osmolskae. Research into the life of this new and mysterious Velociraptor species is ongoing.

Read'Duelling Dinosaurs' fossil, hidden from science for 14 years...Read StoryRead'Jurassic Park' got almost everything wrong about this iconic...Read StoryReadThese are some of the world's most spectacular dinosaur fossilsRead StoryMore recently, scientists discovered Velociraptor’s oldest known relative: a three-foot-long fluffy dinosaur named Hesperornithoides miessleri. Covered in feathers and sporting a sickle-shaped claw on each foot, this little hunter lived in the late Jurassic period, about 164 million to 145 million years ago. Though Hesperornithoides miessleri was apparently unable to fly, its existence suggests that dinosaurs began to evolve feathers and wing-like arms millions of years before the first birds appeared.

Velociraptor disappeared from the fossil record about 70 million years ago. A few million years later, a cataclysmic asteroid strike sparked an extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs.

AsiaCretaceous periodExtinctionFossilsScienceAnimalsArchaeologyDinosaursEarthEnvironment and ConservationExtinct SpeciesHistoryMesozoic EraPrehistoric AnimalsPrehistoryMoreRead MoreExplore Nat GeoAnimalsEnvironmentHistory & CultureScienceTravelPhotographySpaceAdventureVideoAbout usTopics, authors and photographersNational Geographic PartnersNational Geographic SocietyNational Geographic ExpeditionsTV scheduleSubscribeMagazinesDisney+Follow usfacebooktwitterinstagramyoutuberssPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseUK & EU Privacy RightsInterest-Based AdsCookie PolicyCookie SettingsConsent ManagementCopyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reser

Velociraptor | Natural History Museum

Accept cookies?

Manage my preferences

Yes, accept all

Visit

The Museum at South Kensington

The Museum at Tring

Back

The Museum at South Kensington

Back

The Museum at South Kensington

Plan your visit

What's on

Explore the

Museum

Access

The Museum at Tring

Back

The Museum at Tring

Getting here

What's on

Explore the

Museum

Access

Discover

Back

Discover

News

Anthropocene

British wildlife

Collections

Dinosaurs

Human evolution

Oceans

Space

What on Earth?

Video

Take part

Join and support

Back

Join and support

Membership

Make a donation

Patrons

Corporate partnerships

Shop

Schools

Our

science

Back

Deworm3

About

Who we are

Objectives

Achievements

Research tool kit

Publications

News

Membership

Donate

Popular search terms:

British

wildlife

Wildlife

Photographer of the Year

Dinosaurs

Space

Explore the Museum

Explore dinosaurs by:

Name (A-Z)

All

When they lived

Late Triassic

Early Jurassic

Mid Jurassic

Late Jurassic

Early Cretaceous

Late Cretaceous

Where they were found

Algeria

Antarctica

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Chile

China

Egypt

England

France

Germany

India

Japan

Kazakhstan

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mongolia

Morocco

Niger

North Africa

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Scotland

South Africa

Spain

Switzerland

Tanzania

Tunisia

United Kingdom

Uruguay

USA

Uzbekistan

Wales

Zimbabwe

Type of dinosaur

Armoured dinosaur

Ceratopsian

Early dinosaur

Small ornithischian

Small ornithopod

Large ornithopod

Pachycephalosaur

Prosauropod

Sauropod

Small theropod

Large theropod

What they ate

Other animals

Plants

Plants and animals

Unknown

Velociraptor

Pronunciation:

vel-OSS-ee-rap-tor

Name meaning:

'quick plunderer'

Type of dinosaur:

small theropod

Length:

1.8m

Weight:

7kg

Diet:

carnivorous

Teeth:

lots of sharp, pointed teeth

Food:

other animals

How it moved:

on 2 legs

When it lived:

Late Cretaceous, 74-70 million years ago

Found in:

Mongolia

As portrayed in the Jurassic Park movies, Velociraptor was recreated at twice its actual size and closely modelled on Deinonychus. Though this was seen as unscientific at the time, soon after the first film was released, a dinosaur of the same type, Utahraptor, was discovered, even larger than the virtual Velociraptors.Velociraptor is now thought to have had a fine feather-like covering.

Taxonomic details

Taxonomy:

Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae

Named by:

Osborn (1924)

Type species:

mongoliensis

Dinosaurs

Vicious Velociraptor: tales of a turkey-sized dinosaur

Movie star, established brawler and owner of a killer claw, Velociraptor has quite a reputation.

Dinosaurs

How dinosaurs evolved into birds

The humble pigeon is a distant relative of the mighty T. rex.

Dinosaurs

Is it a dinosaur?

How well do you know your dinosaurs? Take our quiz to find out.

Dinosaurs

What's wrong with these dinosaurs?

These popular dinosaur reconstructions from the 1960s are no longer scientifically accurate. Can you spot the errors?

Step back in time

Find out more about dinosaurs' lives and the world they lived in.

Fun and games

Learn more about dinosaurs through toys, board games and activity kits, available from our online shop.

Dinosaurs gallery

Roarrr. Come face-to-face with some of the Museum's most famous dinosaurs.

The Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road

London SW7 5BD

Map

See our opening hours

The Natural History Museum at Tring

Akeman Street

Tring

Hertfordshire HP23 6AP

Map

See our opening hours

Visit

What's on

Galleries and Museum map

Access

Discover

News

Anthropocene

British wildlife

Collections

Dinosaurs

Human evolution

Oceans

Space

What on Earth?

Video

For schools

Visiting South Kensington

Visiting Tring

Learning resources

Careers

Current vacancies

Join and support

Membership

Gift membership

Make a donation

Become a Patron

Corporate partnerships

Take part

Volunteer

Citizen science

Identify UK nature

Centre for UK Biodiversity

About us

News

Press office

Governance

Online shop

Our science

Research

Collections

Datasets

People

Facilities

Study and events

Library and archives

Business services

Touring exhibitions

Consulting

Publishing

Film locations

NHM images

Venue hire

Licensing

Legal

Cookie preferences

Privacy notice

Website accessibility statement

Terms and conditions

Modern Slavery Statement

Opens in a new window

Velociraptor | Dinosaurs - Pictures and Facts

Velociraptor | Dinosaurs - Pictures and FactsHomeList of DinosaursFacts & FAQPrehistoric AnimalsPrehistoric Birds, Fish, Amphibians…Prehistoric AmphibiansPrehistoric BirdsPrehistoric FishPrehistoric SharksPrehistoric TetrapodsPrehistoric MammalsMarsupial EvolutionMegafauna MammalsPrehistoric DogsPrehistoric ElephantsPrehistoric HorsesPrehistoric PrimatesPrehistoric WhalesSaber-Toothed CatsThe First MammalsPrehistoric ReptilesBefore The DinosaursPlesiosaurs and PliosaursPrehistoric CrocodilesPrehistoric SnakesPrehistoric TurtlesThe “Fish Lizards”The First ReptilesThe Flying ReptilesThe Marine Reptiles of The Late CretaceousDinosaur ToysSearch

HomeList of DinosaursFacts & FAQPrehistoric AnimalsPrehistoric Birds, Fish, Amphibians…Prehistoric AmphibiansPrehistoric BirdsPrehistoric FishPrehistoric SharksPrehistoric TetrapodsPrehistoric MammalsMarsupial EvolutionMegafauna MammalsPrehistoric DogsPrehistoric ElephantsPrehistoric HorsesPrehistoric PrimatesPrehistoric WhalesSaber-Toothed CatsThe First MammalsPrehistoric ReptilesBefore The DinosaursPlesiosaurs and PliosaursPrehistoric CrocodilesPrehistoric SnakesPrehistoric TurtlesThe “Fish Lizards”The First ReptilesThe Flying ReptilesThe Marine Reptiles of The Late CretaceousDinosaur ToysHome List of Dinosaurs VelociraptorVelociraptorShareQuick Velociraptor FactsThey have hollow bones like a birdTheir name means “swift robber”They were carnivorous scavengersThey weighed less than an average turkeyThey lived around Central Asia and Mongolia– Shop Velociraptor Merchandise –Velociraptor by Julius CsotonyiVelociraptor PicturesAbout VelociraptorVelociraptor is a carnivorous dinosaur which lived during the Cretaceous Period—around 75 million years ago. This species of dinosaur was first discovered by Peter Kaisen in the Gobi Desert on August 11th, 1923. A year later, it was given the name Velociraptor. This name combines the Latin word “Velox”, which means swift and the Latin word “Raptor” which means robber.While this dinosaur has received a lot of attention because it is prominently featured in the Jurassic Park series of movies, scientists believe that the ones in the movie bear little resemblance to those which actually lived in real life. The dinosaurs depicted in these movie were actually based on Deinonychus and not true Velociraptors. In real life, they were only about the size of a turkey and had feathers, and weren’t the man-sized reptilian dinosaurs they were depicted in the film. The average Velociraptor weighed approximately 30 pounds and stood a little bit over 3 feet tall.Another interesting fact about this dinosaur is that it isn’t believed to have been as fast as it was portrayed in the Jurassic Park films. In fact, most scientists believe that these dinosaurs could run at a top speed of about 40 miles per hour. Much slower than a cheetah (60 mph) or a lion (50 mph), although it is quite a bit faster than a human at top speed (28 mph).According to the latest research, it is believed that the Velociraptor hunted and scavenged for small animals. Its diet most likely consisted of reptiles, small mammals, insects and smaller dinosaurs. Although it is usually depicted as being an aggressive hunter in the movies, more than likely it was more of a scavenger than a hunter.Velociraptor PicturesVelociraptor

Michael SkrepnickVelociraptor

Mineo ShiraishiVelociraptor

Dann PigdonVelociraptor

Christopher SrnkaVelociraptor

Julius CsotonyiRELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHORNigersaurus (the dinosaur with 500 teeth!)CentrosaurusDryosaurusGasosaurusBruhathkayosaurusCamptosaurusPopular DinosaursParasaurolophusTroodonCeratosaurusCompsognathusSpinosaurusCarnotaurusVelociraptorGallimimusGorgosaurusPachycephalosaurusPopular Prehistoric AnimalsHelicoprionDunkleosteusElephant BirdPlesiosaurusPassenger PigeonSmilodonDimorphodonArchaeopteryxAustralopithecusSarcosuchusAbout usContact usTerms of servicePrivacy policy© NewDinosaurs.com, 2023. All rights reserv