Its name means fast thief. The Velociraptor was smaller than its representation in popular culture, but it was still a fearsome and swift hunter. The typical protuberances of the insertion of feathers present in the bones of the arm confirm that it had them. It was probably warm-blooded, and had soft fur to retain heat and provide energy for hunting.
Velociraptor
Family
Theropods
Era
Upper Cretaceous, 75 million years ago
Where he lived?
Mongolia
Weight
45Kg
Height
0,5m
Length
2m
Learn More About the Velociraptor
Forget for a moment the person-sized predator that roars in the movies. The real Velociraptor would fit in your living room: it was about 2 metres long, barely half a metre tall at the hip and weighed around 45 kilos, the same as a large turkey or a sheepdog. And even so, it was one of the fastest and cleverest hunters of the Cretaceous. In this guide we cover its real size, why it ran so fast, what it ate, the claw it used to catch its prey and the feathers almost no one imagines. At the end you'll find how to meet it up close at Dinosaurland and a FAQ with the most common questions.
How big was the Velociraptor really?
Here's the first surprise: the Velociraptor was small. At 2 metres long (much of that tail), 0.5 metres tall at the hip and around 45 kilos, it was closer to a feathered turkey than to the monster that jumps onto the kitchen counter in Jurassic Park. Those giant "raptors" on screen were actually inspired by a larger relative, the Deinonychus, and in some cases were even scaled up. The real Velociraptor played in a different size league, but it more than made up for it with agility and brains.
Why it was so fast and how it hunted
Its name says it all: Velociraptor means "swift thief". It's estimated it could reach around 40 km/h in short bursts, running on two legs with a stiff tail that worked like a rudder to keep its balance through sharp turns. Its star weapon was a large curved, sickle-shaped claw on the second toe of each foot, which it held raised while running and drove into its prey to pin it down while biting. Being probably warm-blooded, it could keep up a high level of activity while hunting, something unusual among the reptiles of its time.
A dinosaur with feathers
For decades we pictured it with scaly skin, but the fossils tell another story. Bumps found on the Velociraptor's arm bones match the attachment points of feathers, the same sign we see in today's birds. It didn't fly, but those feathers helped it keep warm, show off during courtship and perhaps manoeuvre better mid-chase. Seeing it with plumage doesn't make it any less fearsome: it brings it even closer to what its descendants are today, the birds.
Where and when it lived
The Velociraptor lived in Central Asia about 75 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous, in what is now Mongolia. Its home was a landscape of dunes and deserts like the Gobi, where its first fossils were discovered back in the 1920s. From that region comes one of palaeontology's most famous finds: the so-called "Fighting Dinosaurs", a Velociraptor and a Protoceratops fossilised mid-battle, buried all at once by a sandstorm or a collapsing dune. Fossils like these let us know in detail how it moved and hunted.
What the Velociraptor ate
It was an opportunistic carnivore. Its menu included small dinosaurs, reptiles, rodent-sized mammals and, most likely, insects and carrion when the chance came. It wasn't a hunter of big prey through brute force, but through speed and strategy: it prowled, picked its moment and used its claw and its speed to catch animals it could overpower. That profile of an agile, adaptable predator explains why it thrived in an environment as harsh as the desert.
Velociraptor fun facts
- Its name means "swift thief", but it wasn't the fastest of all dinosaurs: it stood out for combining speed with intelligence.
- It's directly related to birds; in fact, it's considered a "transitional" dinosaur towards them.
- The iconic second-toe claw didn't drag along the ground: it kept it raised to keep it sharp.
- The famous "Fighting Dinosaurs" fossil is one of the few direct pieces of evidence of a dinosaur's hunting behaviour.
- On screen it appears featherless and huge; science has corrected both.
The Velociraptor at Dinosaurland
At Dinosaurland you can see the Velociraptor at life size and check for yourself what surprises almost everyone: that it was much smaller than they expected. It's a perfect stop to visit with kids, because at that age they love discovering that the movie "raptor" had feathers and would fit in their bedroom. Along the way you can compare its outline with that of its larger relative, the Deinonychus, or with the park's undisputed king, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. And yes, we have a nod for the fans: the Raptor Café, where you can refuel after the tour.
To make the most of your visit, book your tickets online and skip the queues, and always check the up-to-date opening hours on the official website before coming. To round off the day, the Dinos & Caves pass combines Dinosaurland with the Cuevas dels Hams: dinosaurs in the morning and an underground lake in the afternoon, all near Porto Cristo.
Frequently asked questions about the Velociraptor
How big was the Velociraptor?
The Velociraptor was about 2 metres long, reached around 0.5 metres tall at the hip and weighed some 45 kilos. It was much smaller than its movie version, roughly the size of a large turkey or a medium-sized dog.
How fast could the Velociraptor run?
It's estimated it could reach around 40 km/h over short distances. It ran on two legs and used its stiff tail like a rudder to keep its balance through quick turns.
Did the Velociraptor have feathers?
Yes. The bones of its arms show feather attachment marks, the same sign found in today's birds. It didn't fly, but the feathers helped it stay warm and show off.
What did the Velociraptor eat?
It was an opportunistic carnivore. It fed on small dinosaurs, reptiles and mammals, and probably on insects and carrion too. It hunted through speed and strategy rather than force.
Where can I see a Velociraptor in Mallorca?
At Dinosaurland, in Porto Cristo, you can see a life-size reproduction of the Velociraptor alongside dozens more dinosaurs. Book your ticket online and check the opening hours on the official website.
The Velociraptor proves that size isn't everything: small, feathered and super smart, it was one of the great stars of the Cretaceous and still wins over kids and grown-ups millions of years later. Come to Dinosaurland to see it up close and discover what this swift thief was really like.
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