“Velociraptor skeleton.” Photo by Kabacchi, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Velociraptor (Up-to-Date Version)
Artist: Lawrence Lin
The Velociraptor is known for being quick-witted, as a result of its depiction in Jurassic Park. However, the real velociraptor was nowhere near as smart as depicted in the series. It was smart enough to be a social animal, but there is no proof that they were close to being geniuses as depicted. Another inaccuracy made by the movies is the skin of the velociraptors. More recent discoveries have revealed that raptor species actually had feathers, not the rough skin as shown in the movies. This was found as paleontologists discovered that the fossils of velociraptor forearms had tiny holes in them, where quills would fit. Although this discovery was not yet made at the time of the first Jurassic Park, by the release of Jurassic World, paleontologists had made this finding. Despite this, velociraptors in the movies show no signs of feathers. All of these inaccuracies are somewhat forgivable, but what is unforgivable is the fact that the velociraptor design was four times bigger than the real velociraptor. Now, the public views the velociraptor as a smart, cunning 6 foot tall predator, when in reality, it was only a 1.5 foot tall prehistoric social chicken.
Feathered Velociraptor Arm
Nonfeathered Velociraptor arm (Jurassic Park)
Works Cited
“Velociraptor skeleton.” Photo by Kabacchi, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Velociraptor statue promotional image. © Prime 1 Studio. Used under fair use for educational, non-commercial commentary.
Velociraptor render from Jurassic World: Evolution. Image © Frontier Developments / Universal Pictures. Uploaded to the Jurassic World: Evolution Wiki. Used under fair use for educational, non-commercial purposes.