Manuza the Velociraptor

## Manuza

Manuza the Velociraptor

Manuza As is Velociraptor It has red feathers with purple stripes. It was an eagle-hunting creature day and night just like today's Hyena He Is Villain

## Information

***Velociraptor*** (/vəˌlɒsɪˈræptər, vəˈlɒsɪræptər/;[1] lit. 'swift thief') is a genus of small dromaeosaurid dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous epoch, about 75 million to 71 million years ago. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is ***V. mongoliensis***, named and described in 1924. Fossils of this species have been discovered in the Djadochta Formation, Mongolia. A second species, ***V. osmolskae***, was named in 2008 for skull material from the Bayan Mandahu Formation, China.

Smaller than other dromaeosaurids like *Deinonychus* and *Achillobator*, *Velociraptor* was about 1.5–2.07 m (4.9–6.8 ft) long with a body mass around 14.1–19.7 kg (31–43 lb). It nevertheless shared many of the same anatomical features. It was a bipedal, feathered carnivore with a long tail and an enlarged sickle-shaped claw on each hindfoot, which is thought to have been used to tackle and restrain prey. *Velociraptor* can be distinguished from other dromaeosaurids by its long and low skull, with an upturned snout.

*Velociraptor* (commonly referred to as "raptor") is one of the dinosaur genera most familiar to the general public due to its prominent role in the *Jurassic Park* films. In reality, however, *Velociraptor* was roughly the size of a turkey, considerably smaller than the approximately 2 m (6.6 ft) tall and 90 kg (200 lb) reptiles seen in the novels and films (which were based on members of the related genus *Deinonychus*). Today, *Velociraptor* is well known to paleontologists, with over a dozen described fossil skeletons. One particularly famous specimen preserves a *Velociraptor* locked in combat with a *Protoceratops*.

## History of discovery

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Bayanzag\_%28Flaming\_Cliffs%29.jpg/238px-Bayanzag\_%28Flaming\_Cliffs%29.jpg

Photograph of the Flaming Cliffs, Mongolia

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Velociraptor\_mongoliensis\_type\_skull\_and\_jaws.jpg/238px-Velociraptor\_mongoliensis\_type\_skull\_and\_jaws.jpg

Line diagram of *V. mongoliensis* holotype skull and associated manual ungual

During an American Museum of Natural History expedition to the Flaming Cliffs (Bayn Dzak or Bayanzag) of the Djadochta Formation, Gobi Desert, on 11 August 1923, Peter Kaisen discovered the first *Velociraptor* fossil known to science—a crushed but complete skull, associated with one of the raptorial second toe claws (AMNH 6515). In 1924, museum president Henry Fairfield Osborn designated the skull and claw (which he assumed to come from the hand) as the type specimen of his new genus, *Velociraptor*. This name is derived from the Latin words *velox* ('swift') and *raptor* ('robber' or 'plunderer') and refers to the animal's cursorial nature and carnivorous diet. Osborn named the type species *V. mongoliensis* after its country of origin.[2] Earlier that year, Osborn had informally mentioned the animal in a popular press article, under the name "Ovoraptor djadochtari" (not to be confused with the similarly named *Oviraptor*),[3] eventually changed into *V. mongoliensis* during its formal description.[2]

While North American teams were shut out of communist Mongolia during the Cold War, expeditions by Soviet and Polish scientists, in collaboration with Mongolian colleagues, recovered several more specimens of *Velociraptor*. The most famous is part of the "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen (MPC-D 100/25; formerly IGM, GIN, or GI SPS), discovered by a Polish-Mongolian team in 1971. The fossil preserves a *Velociraptor* in battle against a *Protoceratops*.[4][5][6] It is considered a national treasure of Mongolia, and in 2000 it was loaned to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City for a temporary exhibition.[7]

Between 1988 and 1990, a joint Chinese-Canadian team discovered *Velociraptor* remains in northern China.[8] American scientists returned to Mongolia in 1990, and a joint Mongolian-American expedition to the Gobi, led by the American Museum of Natural History and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, turned up several well-preserved skeletons.[9][10] One such specimen, MPC-D 100/980, was nicknamed "Ichabodcraniosaurus" by Norell's team because the fairly complete specimen was found without its skull (an allusion to the Washington Irving character Ichabod Crane).[11] While Norell and Makovicky provisionally considered it a specimen of *Velociraptor mongoliensis*,[9] it was named as a new species *Shri devi* in 2021.[12]

In 1999, Rinchen Barsbold and Halszka Osmólska reported a juvenile *Velociraptor* specimen (GIN or IGM 100/2000), represented by a complete skeleton including the skull of a young individual. It was found at the Tugriken Shireh locality of the Djadochta Formation during the context of the Mongolian-Japanese Palaeontological Expeditions. The coauthors stated that detailed descriptions of this and other specimens would be published at a later date.[13]

### Additional species

Maxillae and a lacrimal (the main tooth-bearing bones of the upper jaw, and the bone that forms the anterior margin of the eye socket, respectively) recovered from the Bayan Mandahu Formation in 1999 by the Sino-Belgian Dinosaur Expeditions were found to pertain to *Velociraptor*, but not to the type species *V. mongoliensis*. Pascal Godefroit and colleagues named these bones *V. osmolskae* (for Polish paleontologist Halszka Osmólska) in 2008.[14] However, the 2013 study noted that while "the elongate shape of the maxilla in *V. osmolskae* is similar to that of *V. mongoliensis*," phylogenetic analysis found it to be closer to *Linheraptor*, making the genus paraphyletic; thus, *V. osmolskae* might not actually belong to the genus *Velociraptor* and requires reassessment.[15]

Paleontologists Mark A. Norell and Peter J. Makovicky in 1997 described new and well preserved specimens of *V. mongoliensis*, namely MPC-D 100/985 collected from the Tugrik Shireh locality in 1993, and MPC-D 100/986 collected in 1993 from the Chimney Buttes locality. The team briefly mentioned another specimen, MPC-D 100/982, which by the time of this publication remained undescribed.[10] In 1999 Norell and Makovicky provided more insights into the anatomy of *Velociraptor* with additional specimens. Among these, MPC-D 100/982 was partially described and figured, and referred to *V. mongoliensis* mainly based on cranial similarities with the holotype skull, although they stated that differences were present between the pelvic region of this specimen and other *Velociraptor* specimens. This relatively well-preserved specimen including the skull was discovered and collected in 1995 at the Bayn Dzak locality (specifically at the "Volcano" sub-locality).[9] Martin Kundrát in a 2004 abstract compared the neurocranium of MPC-D 100/982 to another *Velociraptor* specimen, MPC-D 100/976. He concluded that the overall morphology of the former was more derived (advanced) than the latter, suggesting that they could represent distinct taxa.[16]

Mark J. Powers in his 2020 master thesis fully described MPC-D 100/982, which he concluded to represent a new and third species of *Velociraptor*. This species, which he considered distinct, was stated to mainly differ from other *Velociraptor* species in having a shallow maxilla morphology.[17] Powers and colleagues also in 2020 used morphometric analyses to compare several dromaeosaurid maxillae, and found the maxilla of MPC-D 100/982 to strongly differ from specimens referred to *Velociraptor*. They indicated that this specimen, based on these results, represents a different species.[18] In 2021 Powers with team used Principal Component Analysis to separate dromaeosaurid maxillae, most notably finding that MPC-D 100/982 falls outside the instraspecific variability of *V. mongoliensis*, arguing for a distinct species. They considered that both *V. mongoliensis* and this new species were ecologically separated based on their skull anatomy.[19] The team in another 2021 abstract reinforced again the species-level separation, noting that additional differences can be found in the hindlimbs.[20]

## Description

*Velociraptor* was a small to medium-sized dromaeosaurid, with adults measuring between 1.5–2.07 m (4.9–6.8 ft) long, approximately 0.5 m (1.6 ft) high at the hips,[21][22] and weighing about 14.1–19.7 kg (31–43 lb).[23][24]

Prominent quill knobs—attachment site of "wing" feathers and direct indicator of a feather covering—have been reported from the ulna of a single *Velociraptor* specimen (IGM 100/981), which represents an animal of estimated 1.5 m (4.9 ft) long and 15 kg (33 lb) in weight. The spacing of 6 preserved knobs suggests that 8 additional knobs may have been present, giving a total of 14 quill knobs that developed large secondaries ("wing" feathers stemming from the forearm).[25] However, the specimen number has been corrected to IGM 100/3503 and its referral to *Velociraptor* may require reevaluation, pending further study.[26] Nevertheless, there is strong phylogenetic evidence from other dromaeosaurid relatives that indicates the presence of feathers in *Velociraptor*, including dromaeosaurids such as *Daurlong*,[27] *Microraptor*,[28] or *Zhenyuanlong*.[29]

### Skull

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Velociraptor\_rostrum\_%28holotype%29.png/105px-Velociraptor\_rostrum\_%28holotype%29.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Velociraptor\_holotype\_skull\_%28labelled%29.png/169px-Velociraptor\_holotype\_skull\_%28labelled%29.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Velociraptor\_dentary\_%28holotype%29.png/278px-Velociraptor\_dentary\_%28holotype%29.png

*V. mongoliensis* holotype skull (right), rostrum (left), and dentary (bottom)

The skull of *Velociraptor* was rather elongated and grew up to 23 cm (9.1 in) long. It was uniquely up-curved at the snout region, concave on the upper surface, and convex on the lower surface. The snout, which occupied about 60% of the entire skull length, was notably narrow and mainly formed by the nasal, premaxilla, and maxilla bones. The premaxilla was the anteriormost bone in the skull, and it was longer than taller. While its posterior end joined the nasal, the main body of the premaxilla touched the maxilla. The maxilla was nearly triangular in shape and the largest element of the snout. On its center or main body, there was a depression developing a small oval to circular-shaped hole, called maxillary fenestra. Though in front of this fenestra were two small openings, referred to as promaxillary fenestrae. The posterior border of the maxilla formed (predominantly) the antorbital fenestra, one of the several large holes in the skull. Both premaxilla and maxilla had several alveoli (tooth sockets) on their bottom surfaces. Above the maxilla and making contact with the premaxilla, there was the nasal bone. It was a thin/narrow and elongated bone contributing to the top surface of the snout. Together, both premaxilla and nasal bones gave form to the naris or narial fenestra (nostril opening), which was relatively large and circular. The posterior end of the nasal was joined by the frontal and lacrimal bones.[30][13]

The back or anterior region of the skull was built by the frontal, lacrimal, postorbital, jugal, parietal, quadrate, and quadratojugal bones. The frontal was large element, having a vaguely rectangular shape when seen from above. On its posterior end, this bone was in contact with the parietal, and such elements were the main bodies of the skull roof. The lacrimal was a T-shaped bone and its main body was thin and delicated. Its lower end meet the jugal (often called cheek bone), which was a large, sub-triangular-shaped element. Its lower border was notably straight/horizontal. The postorbital was located just above the jugal: a stocky and strongly T-shaped bone. As a whole, the orbit or orbital fenestra (eye socket)—formed by the lacrimal, jugal, frontal, and postorbital—was large and near circular in shape, being longer than taller. When seen from above, a pair of large and markedly rounded holes were present near the rear of the skull (the temporal fenestrae), whose main components were the postorbital and squamosal. Behind the jugal, an inverted T-shaped bone (also seen in other dromaeosaurids), known as the quadratojugal, was developed. While the upper end of the quadratojugal joined the squamosal, an irregularly-shaped element, its inner side meet the quadrate. The latter was of great importance for the articulation with the lower jaw. The posteriormost bone was the occipital bone and its projection the occipital condyle: a rounded and bulbous protuberance that meet the first vertebra of the neck.[30][13]

The lower jaw of *Velociraptor* comprised mainly the dentary, splenial, angular, surangular, and articular bones. The dentary was a very long, weakly curved, and narrow element that developed several alveoli on its top surface. On its posterior end, it meet the surangular. It had a small hole near its posterior end, called surangular foramen or fenestra. Both bones were the largest elements of the lower jaw of *Velociraptor*, contributing to virtually its entire length. Below them were the smaller splenial and angular, closely articulated to each other. The articular, located on the inner side of the surangular, was a small element that joined the quadrate of the upper skull, enabling the articulation with the lower jaw. An elongated, near oval-shaped hole was developed in the center of the lower jaw (the mandibular fenestra), and it was produced by the joint of the dentary, surangular, and angular bones.[30][13]

The teeth of *Velociraptor* were fairly homodont (equal in shape) and had several denticles (serrations), each more strongly serrated on the back edge than the front. The premaxilla had 4 alveoli (meaning that 4 teeth were developed), and the maxilla had 11 alveoli. At the dentary, between 14–15 alveoli were present. All teeth present at the premaxilla were poorly curved, and the two first teeth were the longest, with the second having a characteristic large size. The maxillary teeth were more slender, recurved, and most notably, the lower end was strongly more serrated than the upper one.[30][13]

### Postcranial skeleton

The arm of *Velociraptor* was formed by the humerus (upper arm bone), radius and ulna (forearm bones), and manus (hand). *Velociraptor*, like other dromaeosaurids, had a large manus with three elongated digits (fingers), which ended up in strongly curved unguals (claw bones) that were similar in construction and flexibility to the wing bones of modern birds. The second digit was the longest of the three digits present, while the first was shortest. The structure of the carpal (wrist) bones prevented pronation of the wrist and forced the manus to be held with the palmar surface facing inward (medially), not downward. The pes (foot) anatomy of *Velociraptor* consisted of the metatarsus—a large element composed of three metatarsals of which the first one was extremely reduced in size—and four digits that developed large unguals. The first digit, as in other theropods, was a small dewclaw. The second digit, for which *Velociraptor* is most famous, was highly modified and held retracted off the ground, which caused *Velociraptor* and other dromaeosaurids to walk on only their third and fourth digits. It bore a relatively large, sickle-shaped claw, typical of dromaeosaurid and troodontid dinosaurs. This enlarged claw, which could grow to over 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long around its outer edge, was most likely a predatory device used to restrain struggling prey.[10][9]

As in other dromaeosaurs, *Velociraptor* tails had prezygapophyses (long bony projections) on the upper surfaces of the vertebrae, as well as ossified tendons underneath. The prezygapophyses began on the tenth tail (caudal) vertebra and extended forward to brace four to ten additional vertebrae, depending on position in the tail. These were once thought to fully stiffen the tail, forcing the entire tail to act as a single rod-like unit. However, at least one specimen has preserved a series of intact tail vertebrae curved sideways into an *S*-shape, suggesting that there was considerably more horizontal flexibility than once thought.[10][9][31]

## Classification

*Velociraptor* is a member of the group Eudromaeosauria, a derived sub-group of the larger family Dromaeosauridae. It is often placed within its own subfamily, Velociraptorinae. In phylogenetic taxonomy, Velociraptorinae is usually defined as "all dromaeosaurs more closely related to *Velociraptor* than to *Dromaeosaurus*." However, dromaeosaurid classification is highly variable. Originally, the subfamily Velociraptorinae was erected solely to contain *Velociraptor*.[4] Other analyses have often included other genera, usually *Deinonychus* and *Saurornitholestes*,[32] and more recently *Tsaagan*.[33] Several studies published during the 2010s, including expanded versions of the analyses that found support for Velociraptorinae, have failed to resolve it as a distinct group, but rather have suggested it is a paraphyletic grade which gave rise to the Dromaeosaurinae.[34][35]

When first described in 1924, *Velociraptor* was placed in the family Megalosauridae, as was the case with most carnivorous dinosaurs at the time (Megalosauridae, like *Megalosaurus*, functioned as a sort of 'wastebin' taxon, where many unrelated species were grouped together).[2] As dinosaur discoveries multiplied, *Velociraptor* was later recognized as a dromaeosaurid. All dromaeosaurids have also been referred to the family Archaeopterygidae by at least one author (which would, in effect, make *Velociraptor* a flightless bird).[36] In the past, other dromaeosaurid species, including *Deinonychus antirrhopus* and *Saurornitholestes langstoni*, have sometimes been classified in the genus *Velociraptor*. Since *Velociraptor* was the first to be named, these species were renamed *Velociraptor antirrhopus* and *V. langstoni*.[21] As of 2008, the only currently recognized species of *Velociraptor* are *V. mongoliensis*[13][36][37] and *V. osmolskae*.[14] However, several studies have found "*V.*" *osmolskae* to be distantly related to *V. mongoliensis*.[38][39]Below are the results for the Eudromaeosauria phylogeny based on the phylogenetic analysis conducted by James G. Napoli and team in 2021 during the description of *Kuru*, showing the position of *Velociraptor*:[26]

## Paleobiology

### Feathers

In 2007 Alan H. Turner and colleagues reported the presence of six quill knobs in the ulna of a referred *Velociraptor* specimen (IGM 100/981) from the Ukhaa Tolgod locality of the Djadochta Formation. Turner and colleagues interpreted the presence of feathers on *Velociraptor* as evidence against the idea that the larger, flightless maniraptorans lost their feathers secondarily due to larger body size. Furthermore, they noted that quill knobs are almost never found in flightless bird species today, and that their presence in *Velociraptor* (presumed to have been flightless due to its relatively large size and short forelimbs) is evidence that the ancestors of dromaeosaurids could fly, making *Velociraptor* and other large members of this family secondarily flightless, though it is possible the large wing feathers inferred in the ancestors of *Velociraptor* had a purpose other than flight. The feathers of the flightless *Velociraptor* may have been used for display, for covering their nests while brooding, or for added speed and thrust when running up inclined slopes.[25]

Because of the presence of another dromaeosaurid in Ukhaa Tolgod, *Tsaagan*, Napoli and team have noted that the referral of this specimen to *Velociraptor* is currently subject to reexamination.[26]

### Senses

Examinations of the endocranium of *Velociraptor* indicate that it was able to detect and hear a wide range of sound frequencies (2,368–3,965 Hz) and could track prey with ease as a result. The endocranium examinations also further cemented the theory that the dromaeosaur was an agile, swift predator. Fossil evidence suggesting *Velociraptor* scavenged also indicates that it was an opportunistic and actively predatory animal, feeding on carrion during times of drought or famine, if in poor health, or depending on the animal's age.[40]

### Feeding

In 2020, Powers and colleagues re-examined the maxillae of several eudromaeosaur taxa concluding that most Asian and North American eudromaeosaurs were separated by snout morphology and ecological strategies. They found the maxilla to be a reliable reference when inferring the shape of the premaxilla and overall snout. For instance, most Asian species have elongated snouts based on the maxilla (namely velociraptorines), indicating a selective feeding in *Velociraptor* and relatives, such as picking up small, fast prey. In contrast, most North American eudromaeosaurs, mostly dromaeosaurines, feature a robust and deep maxillar morphology. However, the large dromaeosurine *Achillobator* is a unique exception to Asian taxa with its deep maxilla.[41]

Manabu Sakamoto in 2022 performed a Bayesian phylogenetic predictive modelling framework for estimating jaw muscle parameters and bite forces of several extinct archosaurs, based on skull widths and phylogenetic relationships between groups. Among studied taxa, *Velociraptor* was scored with a bite force of 304 N, which was lower than that of other dromaeosaurids such as *Dromaeosaurus* (885 N) or *Deinonychus* (706 N).[42]

### Predatory behavior

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Fighting\_dinosaurs\_%281%29.jpg/210px-Fighting\_dinosaurs\_%281%29.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Velociraptor\_v.\_Protoceratops\_%28fixed%29.jpg/174px-Velociraptor\_v.\_Protoceratops\_%28fixed%29.jpg

The "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen of *V. mongoliensis* and *Protoceratops andrewsi* and restoration of same

The "Fighting Dinosaurs" specimen, found in 1971, preserves a *Velociraptor mongoliensis* and *Protoceratops andrewsi* in combat and provides direct evidence of predatory behavior. When originally reported, it was hypothesized that the two animals drowned.[6] However, as the animals were preserved in ancient sand dune deposits, it is now thought that the animals were buried in sand, either from a collapsing dune or in a sandstorm. Burial must have been extremely rapid, judging from the lifelike poses in which the animals were preserved. Parts of the *Protoceratops* are missing, which has been seen as evidence of scavenging by other animals.[43] Comparisons between the scleral rings of *Velociraptor*, *Protoceratops*, and modern birds and reptiles indicates that *Velociraptor* may have been nocturnal, while *Protoceratops* may have been cathemeral, active throughout the day during short intervals, suggesting that the fight may have occurred at twilight or during low-light conditions.[44]