Introduction
A velociraptor is a small, fast-running theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. The name means “swift seizer” in Latin. It is one of the best known dinosaurs due to its appearances in Jurassic Park and other media.
Etymology
The name velociraptor comes from the Latin words velox, meaning “swift”, and raptor, meaning “seizer”. The name was given to this dinosaur in 1924 by Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History.
Description
Velociraptors were small dinosaurs, about 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) long and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall at the hip. They weighed about 15 kg (33 lb). The largest known specimen is estimated to have been up to 6 m (20 ft) long and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) tall. They had long tails that helped them balance while running at high speeds. Their heads were relatively large for their body size and contained many sharp teeth for tearing flesh. They also had claws on their feet that were up to 8 cm (3 inches) long. These claws were probably used for killing prey or defending themselves against predators.
Velociraptors are thought to have been covered in feathers, as evidenced by fossilized imprints of feathers found with some specimens. If this is true, they would have been among the first dinosaurs known to be feathered. The function of these feathers is not known for sure, but they may have been used for insulation or display purposes.
Classification
Velociraptors are members of the clade Dinosauria within the superorder Theropoda . Within Dinosauria , they are members of the subgroup Maniraptora , which includes all dinosaurs that share a common ancestor with birds . Within Maniraptora , they belong to either Avialae or Deinonychosauria . Most scientists currently place Velociraptors within Deinonychosauria , as they share many features with other members of this group, such as sickle-shaped claws on their hind feet . However, some scientists believe Velociraptors are more closely related to avialans than deinonychosaurs . This debate will likely continue until more fossils are found and studied .
Fossil record
very little is currently known about Velociprey’s evolutionary history due to the scarcity of fossils found thus far . However, what has been determined is that it descended from a two-legged carnivorous archosauriform reptile duringthe Late Triassic period around 231 million years ago . Its exact placement within Archosauriformes remains uncertain however several phylogenetic analyses suggest it lies within Avemetatarsalia , an extinct clade that contains crocodilians and their close relatives…