Physical Description
The velociraptor was a speedy meat eating dinosaur. They were about 6 feet long, 2 feet high, and weighed roughly 45 lbs (20 Kg). They had a unique S curve neck that would go out from the body and up to its head. The head, which is egg shaped, was generally 9 inches long. The legs of the raptor were very thin allowing it to run at high speeds. The raptor stood on two feet, and probably could jump good distances. We often think of the meat eating dinosaurs as large, scary hunters, but these small pack hunters were very intelligent and efficient predators.
Lifestyle
The raptor could run up to 40 mph in short bursts. This speed gave the velociraptor an advantage over their slower, often larger and heavier prey. The raptor’s tail acted as a counterbalance enabling very fast turns. They used their sharp, 4 inch claws to tear away at their prey and had about 30 razor-sharp teeth on each side of their mouth (60 total). The raptor would tend to eat slower, plant eating dinosaurs such as the protoceratops and other herbivores. The small nature of this animal forced it to hunt in packs, much like wolves.
The velociraptor is believed to have been one of the smartest animals in the dinosaur kingdom. They would use their cunning to outwit and harass their prey, and turned their smaller size to their advantage.
Velociraptor History
The velociraptor lived in the crustaceous period, which was about 80 million years ago. They tended to live in hotter climates. Evidence suggests that a desert climate near fresh water (much like Southern California) is where most raptors would tend to live. Fossils have been found in Eastern Asia, specifically Russia, China, and Mongolia.
Did You Know?
Unlike popular culture tells us, the velociraptor was covered mostly in feathers, not scales. It was also a very short animal, only standing 2 feet tall (about the size of a standing 1-year old human).
The “raptors” portrayed in Jurassic Park were modelled after a slightly larger relative, Deinonychus, which some scientists at the time called Velociraptor Antirrhopus.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Archosauria
- Order: Saurischia
- Family: Dromaeosauridae (Smart Dinosaurs)
- Genus: Velociraptor
- Species: V. Mongoliensis