Velociraptor
by Kristin Elmquist
Title
Velociraptor
Artist
Kristin Elmquist
Medium
Photograph - Digital Painting
Description
Velociraptor; meaning 'swift seizer') is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils of this species have been discovered in Mongolia. A second species, V. osmolskae, was named in 2008 for skull material from Inner Mongolia, China.
Smaller than other dromaeosaurids like Deinonychus and Achillobator, Velociraptor nevertheless shared many of the same anatomical features. It was a bipedal, feathered carnivore with a long, stiffened tail and an enlarged sickle-shaped claw on each hindfoot, which is thought to have been used to kill its prey. Velociraptor can be distinguished from other dromaeosaurids by its long and low skull, with an upturned snout.
Velociraptor (commonly shortened to 'raptor') is one of the dinosaur genera most familiar to the general public due to its prominent role in the Jurassic Park motion picture series. In the films it was shown with anatomical inaccuracies, including being much larger than it was in reality and without feathers. It is also well known to paleontologists, with over a dozen described fossil skeletons�the most of any dromaeosaurid. One particularly famous specimen preserves a Velociraptor locked in combat with a Protoceratops.
Uploaded
April 29th, 2012
Statistics
Viewed 920 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/26/2024 at 3:29 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (16)
Kristin Elmquist
Thanks, John, for featuring this image in the Creativity Group. I appreciate it. :)
Kristin Elmquist
Thanks very much, Chris, Judy, Xueling and Daniel. :) Daniel - since you're the go to guy for these creatures, I am very pleased that you think it's awesome.