How It Works-Book Of Dinosaurs

Velociraptors have been ingrained in
public consciousness since the 1993 mov ie
Jurassic Park showcased them as the most
fearsome of apex predators. Smart, lethal and
bloodthirsty, the Velociraptors of the fi lm arguably
stole the show. However, the mov ie was famed for its

indulgence of artistic licence, with palaeontologists
bemoaning the lack of historical accuracy.
So what were these dinosaurs really like?
Velociraptor, of which there are t wo verifi ed species

• V mongoliensis and V osmolskae, was a genus of
  dromaeosaurid (“running lizard”) theropod
  dinosaur that lived in the Late Cretaceous period,
  about 75-71 million years ago. They were t wo metres

(6.6 feet) long, just under a metre (three feet) high,
feathered and bipedal, running on t wo of their three
toes per foot. Velociraptors were native to modern-
day central A sia most notably Mongolia), where they

built large, ground-based nests to protect their

vulnerable young.

Velociraptors, though often living in close

proximity to one another, were largely solitary and,

while certain fi nds suggest they could have teamed

up while chasing their quarr y, they were not pack

hunters, with evidence showing they would fi ght

among themselves for feeding rights. In addition,

their staple diet consisted of animals of equal size

and weight to themselves or those smaller than

them, with very little evidence suggesting they

would attempt to bring dow n larger dinosaurs, such

as the Ty rannosaurus rex à la.

Velociraptor hunting techniques revolved

largely around their speed and agilit y. They could

accelerate up to 64 kilometres (40 miles) per hour and

pounce long distances, as well as grip prey fi rmly

with their unique, sickle-shaped claws (notably

their enlarged ‘killing claw’). These traits were

partnered with a tendency to ambush prey, rather

than tackle their victims face on or from long range

(see the ‘Slash or subdue?’ boxout for more).

Interestingly, however, while there’s no doubt that

Velociraptors hunted live prey, unearthed fossilised

evidence suggests they were also incredibly active

scavengers, w ith the species frequently feeding on

carrion (pterosaur bones have been found in

velociraptor guts, for instance) and carcasses left over

by other predators.

Velociraptors died out along with the remaining

species of dromaeosauridae in the run up to, and as a

result of, the Cretaceous-Tertiar y mass-extinction

event that occurred approximately 65.5 million years

ago. Despite this, elements of their anatomy and

appearance can still be seen today – albeit in heavily

evolved forms – in many species of bird.

One of the most deadly dinosaurs, the Velociraptor was

an adept predator and scavenger, but not quite the

creature Holly wood would have us believe...

“Velociraptor hunting

techniques revolved

largely around their

speed and agility”

Velociraptors

DINOSAURS

Velociraptors