Raptor Dinosaur
There are several species of dinosaur that typically come to mind when the raptor dinosaur is mentioned. The first breed of raptor dinosaur was made famous with the release of Jurassic Park. This is the Velociraptor. However, it should be noted that what was represented in the movie Jurassic Park is not an accurate description of the Velociraptor. It is actually a different breed of dinosaur, which will be described below. This species of raptor dinosaur is not a bird, although it has some similarities to avian species. The Velociraptor is a small, believed to be intelligent, dinosaur that hunts in packs. It is best known for the elevated hook claws on both feet that are as long as a man's hand and extremely sharp. Their heads are large, with teeth designed for the eating of meat. These animals are carnivores, lacking the teeth suitable for the chewing of plant matter. Skeletons of this species of raptor dinosaur are found in the United States as well as in Europe. The average Velociraptor is smaller than than a human adult, usually comparable to size to an eight year old child..
Similar in some ways to the T. Rex, the Velociraptor has a pair of agile front hands with sharp claws. These animals, like many other reptiles, do not have opposable thumbs, but long, flexible fingers and unusually long talons.
The true identity of the 'Velociraptor' represented in Jurassic park is actually a species of raptor dinosaur called the Utahraptor. Much larger than the Velociraptor, the Utahraptor is often thought of as a compromise in size between the T. Rex and the Velociraptor. Like the Velociraptor, the Utah raptor is a carnivore with a large claw on each of its rear feet. It also has two shorter arms with flexible fingers, and is also believed to hunt in packs. The Utahraptor was believed to be extremely quick and agile, able to corner and chase down prey. However, while the Utahraptor is fast, the Velociraptor is even faster.
Both species of raptor dinosaur were among the best hunters of their time. Alone, either raptor dinosaur could bring down prey far larger than themselves. With both the ability to jump to use their hind claw claws coupled with their speed, they were most lethal when hunting in packs, much like the wolves of our day hunt in packs.
The western United States is primarily where many raptor dinosaur skeletons are found.
