Velociraptor is a well known genus of dromaeosaurid theropod which lived during the late Cretaceous period in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. It was made famous from the Jurassic Park movies.
Physical appearance and biology[]
Velociraptor was a small dinosaur, being 1.5-2 meters (5-7 ft) in length, a height of 1-2.5 ft, weighing 15-18kg (33-40 lb), and having a weak bite force of 305 kg (3,000 newtons). But despite its size it was not to be underestimated. It could run at speeds up to 39kph that were balanced by its stiff tail, 60 razor sharp teeth, 3 inch claws used in slicing flesh, had a great sense of smell, and advanced eyesight that was on equal level with modern birds, whom it was related to. It was also highly intelligent like all dromaeosaurids.
Also like all dromaeosaurids, Velociraptor had feathers. These were not used for flight, rather they could have been used for thermoregulation, warming their nests, to attract mates, or to make skillful movements.
Behaviour and traits[]
Velociraptor lived in the Late Cretaceous in the deserts of what is now Mongolia and China.
Velociraptor and other dromaeosaurids might have hunted in packs. A trait of Velociraptor and its relatives was that it would latch onto prey with its arms and then proceed to slash the flesh of its victim with the sickle claws on its feet. Velociraptor hunted Protoceratops and Citipati, but both prey items were not defenseless and would hold up a fight against an invasive raptor.
Velociraptor was far from being the top predator of Mongolia. It would fall victim to the tyrannosaur Tarbosaurus and possibly the mysterious theropod Therizinosaurus.
In Walking with Dinosaurs: Inside Their World[]
Velociraptor is one of the viewable dinosaurs in the app. An image of a pack can be seen attacking a Protoceratops and another photo recreates the famous fossil find of a Velociraptor locked in combat with a Protoceratops.
Gallery[]
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Behind the scenes[]
List of appearences[]
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