Q 01/05

What does the name Velociraptor mean?

A) Swift thief

B) Terrible claw

C) Fast lizard

D) Sharp hunter

Answer · why

A) Swift thief

From the Latin velox and raptor; 'terrible claw' is what the name of the larger relative Hollywood copied means.

Q 02/05

On which continent did Velociraptor live?

A) North America

B) Africa

C) Asia

D) South America

Answer · why

C) Asia

Its fossils come from Mongolia and northern China, roughly 75 to 71 million years ago.

Q 03/05

Roughly how big was a real Velociraptor?

A) About the size of a horse

B) About the size of a large dog

C) About the size of an ostrich

D) About the size of a turkey

Answer · why

D) About the size of a turkey

Adults were 1.5 to 2 metres long including the tail, half a metre at the hip and 14 to 20 kg.

Q 04/05

How many Velociraptor species were recognised by palaeontologists in 2025?

A) One

B) Four

C) Seven

D) Two

Answer · why

D) Two

V. mongoliensis from 1924 and V. osmolskae from 2008, though the 2008 one may not really belong in the genus at all.

Q 05/05

Which fossil formation in Mongolia has produced most Velociraptor specimens?

A) Nemegt

B) Djadochta

C) Hell Creek

D) Morrison

Answer · why

B) Djadochta

Its wind-blown sands and dunes buried many animals alive during sandstorms, which is why the preservation is so good.

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