Velociraptor

Explore the speedy, feathered hunter from the deserts of ancient Asia.


Artist illustration of a feathered Velociraptor with a long tail and sharp claws.
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Artist illustration of a feathered Velociraptor with a long tail and sharp claws.

Duskbloom Littles (Artistic Image Rendering)

Velociraptor was a small, quick dinosaur that lived in the deserts of Asia. It was about the size of a large turkey and had feathers, just like many modern birds.

VELOCIRAPTOR
COMMON NAME: Velociraptor
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Velociraptor mongoliensis
TYPE: Dinosaur (dromaeosaur)
DIET: Carnivore
GROUP NAME: Unknown
WHEN IT LIVED: Late Cretaceous (about 75 to 71 million years ago)
WHERE IT LIVED: Mongolia and northern China
SIZE: About 6 to 7 feet long
WEIGHT: About 30 to 45 pounds
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A Feathered Hunter

Fossils show that Velociraptor had feathers on its arms and tail. It used a large, curved claw on each foot to grab or hold onto prey.

Velociraptor fossil skeleton

Skeleton display highlighting the long tail and curved claw. Image Credit: Jens Lallensack, Wikimedia Commons

Life in the Desert

Velociraptor lived in dry, sandy environments. It likely hunted small animals like lizards, mammals, and other dinosaurs.

Gobi Desert LandscapeVelociraptor Feather DetailDinosaur Egg NestFossil Site in Mongolia
Velociraptor clues: desert landscape, feather detail, egg nest, and a fossil site. Image Credits (from top left to bottom right): Duskbloom Littles (Artistic Image Rendering); Duskbloom Littles (Artistic Image Rendering); Duskbloom Littles (Artistic Image Rendering); Thomas Vandenberghe, Wikimedia Commons

VELOCIRAPTOR FACTS
It was much smaller than in many movies
Feathers likely helped it stay warm and balance
Its stiff tail helped it turn quickly while running
Scientists are still learning how it hunted

Velociraptor helps us see how some dinosaurs were very bird-like.