The Real Velociraptor: Feathers, Claws, and a Surprising Truth

When you hear the word Velociraptor, you might picture a fast, scary, smart dinosaur—maybe something like the ones in Jurassic Park. They were quick, sneaky, and worked in packs to outsmart humans. But what if we told you that the real Velociraptor was nothing like that?

Let’s take a look at what Velociraptors were really like—and why the truth is just as cool as the movie version.

Not as Big as You Think

In Jurassic Park, Velociraptors were almost as tall as adults and looked strong enough to open doors and chase cars. But in real life, these dinosaurs were only about the size of a turkey! They stood just over a foot tall and weighed around 30 pounds—about the same as a toddler.

Even though they were small, Velociraptors were tough hunters. They had long legs for running, sharp teeth, and claws made for grabbing prey.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

So why do the movie Velociraptors look so different? It turns out that the dinosaurs in the film were actually based on another species: the Deinonychus! These dinosaurs were bigger and fiercer than real Velociraptors, and that’s why the movie creators used them as inspiration.

The name Velociraptor just sounded cooler—so they used it in the film. Even though the real Velociraptor wasn’t a door-opening genius, it was still one smart and skilled predator.

Sharp Claws and Solo Hunting

Velociraptors used the long, curved claws on their back feet to catch their prey. They also had rows of sharp teeth for biting, but those claws were their best weapon. Scientists believe Velociraptors hunted alone—not in packs—going after small animals and even other dinosaurs.

In 1971, an amazing fossil was found showing a Velociraptor fighting with a Protoceratops, a small dinosaur about the size of a sheep. This fossil is one of the most exciting discoveries ever made!

Did You Know Velociraptors Had Feathers?

One of the coolest things about Velociraptors is something the movie didn’t show at all: feathers! That’s right—Velociraptors were covered in feathers, kind of like modern-day birds. They couldn’t fly, but their feathers probably helped with warmth and balance.

This has helped scientists understand the connection between dinosaurs and birds. In fact, some scientists think that today’s birds are actually distant relatives of dinosaurs like the Velociraptor!

Explore Dinosaurs While Learning a New Language

If your child loves dinosaurs and wants to learn more while discovering a new language, Dinolingo is the perfect place to start. With 50+ languages, Dinolingo combines fun topics like dinosaurs, animals, and space with games, videos, flashcards, songs, and more.

Perfect for kids ages 2 to 14, Dinolingo works on web, iOS, and Android, and includes offline materials and a helpful parent dashboard. Whether your child is learning Turkish, Spanish, Korean, or even Latin, they’ll be able to explore the world with exciting content—and maybe even discover their favorite dinosaur in a new language!

Velociraptors: Tiny but Terrific

Even though they’re not exactly like the ones in the movies, real Velociraptors are still some of the most fascinating dinosaurs ever discovered. Their sharp claws, fast feet, and unique feathers make them unforgettable creatures.

So next time you hear someone talk about the scary movie version, you can tell them the truth: the real Velociraptor may have been small, but it was clever, tough, and one-of-a-kind!