Velociraptor Characteristics

Velociraptor was a small ferocious dinosaur who measured around 6 feet (2 metres) in length, 3 feet (1 metre) in height and weighed 15 kilograms (33 pounds). It was a bipedal, feathered dinosaur and walked and ran on it 2 hind legs. Velociraptor had an elongated head which measured 7 inches (18 centimetres) long and which contained around 80 curved and razor sharp teeth, each measuring 1 inch (2.5 centimetres) long. Velociraptor had a flexible 'S' shaped neck, a strong, slender body and a long, stiff tail which was used for counter-balance and helped the dinosaur to quickly change direction when running. Velociraptor could run at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (60 kilometres per hour) in short bursts. It probably could have been able to jump aswell.

Velociraptors long hind legs were thin but powerful and were equipped with sharp claws, one in particular, the second digit on each foot, being an enlarged sickle-shaped claw which was held retracted off of the ground. This enlarged claw, which could be over 2.6 inches (6.5 centimetres) long around its outer edge, was most likely a predatory device used to tear into prey, possibly delivering a fatal blow. Many scientists believe that Velociraptor may have balanced on its powerful tail, as it swung its hind feet forward to slice into the side of larger plant eating dinosaurs. Velociraptors fore limbs were short and equipped with 3 sharp claws.

Velociraptor was a carnivore and probably ate anything it could tear apart with it large, sharp claws. Velociraptors had large brains and were very smart dinosaurs who hunted in packs. This made tham extremely deadly predators. Pack hunting enabled them to take down even some of the largest hadrosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs).

Fossils of this species have been found in central Asia, from both Inner and Outer Mongolia. Fossils of dromaeosaurids more primitive than Velociraptor are known to have had feathers covering their bodies and fully developed, feathered wings.

Fossils were found, in 1971, of a Velociraptor and Protoceratops together. The pair had died at the same time when the Velociraptor was attacking the Protoceratops with its deadly claw, the armour of the Protoceratops had apparently pierced the Velociraptor in the chest.

Only 2 species of Velociraptor are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis. Fossils of this species have been discovered in both Inner and Outer Mongolia in central Asia. A second species, V. osmolskae, was named in 2008 for skull material from Inner Mongolia.

Velociraptor was first found and described by paleontologist H. F. Osborn in Mongolia in 1924.