The fearsome reputation of Velociraptor has earned it a place among the most familiar of dinosaurs. The name Velociraptor means “quick plunderer.” This dinosaur was named for its speed and agility when hunting its prey. Velociraptor was also intelligent and cunning, which made it a deadly predator. It belongs to the group of dinosaurs called dromaeosaurs, popularly known as raptors, or “terrible-clawed lizards.”

Where and when Velociraptor lived

Velociraptor lived about 99 to 65 million years ago, during the last part of the period of the Earth's history known as the Cretaceous. Fossil remains of Velociraptor have been found in Asia. The most amazing discovery was made in Mongolia. There scientists uncovered the skeleton of a Velociraptor locked in a battle to the death with a horned dinosaur called Protoceratops. The Velociraptor had the head frill of its victim gripped in its hand while slashing open its throat and belly with its deadly clawed feet. Protoceratops had the right arm of Velociraptor clamped firmly in its beaklike jaws. Both dinosaurs were apparently victims of a sudden sandstorm. This famous scene is among the greatest dinosaur fossil discoveries. It presents a picture of the violent struggle for survival during prehistoric times. Velociraptor lived in both desert and wooded regions of prehistoric Asia.

Physical features

Velociraptor was a small dinosaur that stood and ran on its two back legs. It reached a length of about 6 feet (2 meters) and weighed up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms). The most striking feature of Velociraptor was the curved, sickle-shaped claw on each foot. This claw was held straight up as Velociraptor walked or ran. Velociraptor had long, muscular legs and arms, and its hands were made for grasping. The head of Velociraptor was low and long, and its snout was flat, which distinguished it from other raptors. Its jaws contained razor-sharp teeth that were made for ripping apart flesh. Velociraptor had a stiff tail.

Behavior

Velociraptor was a meat-eating dinosaur. It often preyed upon smaller plant-eating dinosaurs, such small reptiles as lizards and snakes, and small mammals. Velociraptor used its sickle-shaped claw to kill its victims by slashing them. Its stiff tail allowed it to balance while using this lethal weapon. Its grasping hands and jagged teeth allowed it to easily capture prey. Velociraptor was an intelligent animal and most likely hunted in packs to bring down larger dinosaurs. Scientists believe that it was also an ambush predator, chasing down its victims quickly after pouncing on them from a hiding spot. Velociraptor swallowed chunks of meat in gulps, rather than chewing it as some other meat-eating dinosaurs did. Although fossil discoveries proved that Velociraptor was a great hunter, scientists believe that it also was a scavenger, meaning that it fed upon dead animals.