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Science & Nature • Paleontology

Velociraptor

Velociraptor is a genus of small, feathered, carnivorous theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Asia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Velociraptor is a genus of small, feathered, carnivorous theropod dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous. It is best known for its distinctive sickle-shaped claw on each hind foot and for its frequent, often inaccurate, portrayal in popular media as a much larger predator.

Description

Velociraptor was a small, bipedal theropod dinosaur with feathers, a long tail, and a prominent curved claw on each hind foot. It was a carnivore and is generally reconstructed as an agile predator.

Fossil record and range

Fossils of Velociraptor are known from Asia, particularly Mongolia, and the genus lived during the Late Cretaceous. Britannica places the genus in central and eastern Asia, while National Geographic describes it as roaming Asia between about 74 and 70 million years ago.

Classification

Velociraptor is a dromaeosaurid theropod, a group of dinosaurian predators closely related to birds. Britannica Kids and other summaries place it within the lizard-hipped dinosaur lineage and the theropods.

Public image

Velociraptor became widely known through popular culture, especially the Jurassic Park films. Those depictions are not accurate to its real size or appearance.

Key facts

  • Velociraptor lived in central and eastern Asia during the Late Cretaceous.
  • It was a small predator, not the large dinosaur shown in many films.
  • Fossil evidence indicates that Velociraptor had feathers.
  • It belonged to the dromaeosaurid group of theropod dinosaurs.
  • Its best-known feature was an enlarged sickle-shaped claw on each hind foot.
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Canadian context

Velociraptor is commonly taught in Canadian science and natural-history contexts as an example of a feathered non-avian dinosaur and of how modern paleontology has corrected older movie portrayals.

Frequently asked questions

What was Velociraptor?
Velociraptor was a genus of small, feathered, meat-eating theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Asia.
How big was Velociraptor?
It was much smaller than its film portrayals, with National Geographic describing it as about wolf-sized and Britannica Kids saying it averaged about 6 feet long.
Did Velociraptor have feathers?
Yes. National Geographic reports that studies of Velociraptor mongoliensis show it was covered in feathers.
Where did Velociraptor live?
It lived in Asia, especially in areas that are now Mongolia and nearby regions of central and eastern Asia.
What does the name Velociraptor mean?
The name comes from Greek and means "swift thief."
Was Velociraptor the dinosaur from Jurassic Park?
The Jurassic Park velociraptors were based on raptors but were much larger than the real animal; the real Velociraptor was roughly turkey- to wolf-sized.

References

  1. National Geographic Kids — https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/facts/velociraptor
    Supports: Feathers, diet, meaning of name, habitat, and general description.
  2. National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/velociraptor
    Supports: Feathered body, approximate size, hunting behavior, and time/place lived.
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/Velociraptor
    Supports: Genus classification, geographic range, and Late Cretaceous occurrence.
  4. Britannica Kids — https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Velociraptor/390679
    Supports: Diet, size, classification, and Asian Late Cretaceous range.