Velociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the latter part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past.
Fossils of dromaeosaurids more primitive than Velociraptor are
known to have had feathers covering their bodies and fully developed feathered
wings.The fact that the ancestors of Velociraptor were feathered and possibly
capable of flight had long suggested to paleontologists that Velociraptor bore
feathers as well, since even flightless birds today retain most of their
feathers.
A newly identified species of dinosaur has revealed that
Velociraptors were not smooth skinned as depicted in Jurassic Park but were
actually covered in feathers.This close relative of the velociraptor, called
Zhenyuanlong, lived 125 million years ago in China and is the largest fossil ever
discovered to have such a well-preserved set of bird-like wings.
Although feathered dinosaur fossils have been uncovered in the
past, Zhenyuanlong is the first to possess multiple layers of quill pen-like
feathers, the same as those found on modern birds. This suggests that winged
dinosaurs were more diverse than previously thought.
