The name Velociraptor is often associated with its prominent role in popular media. However, the history of this genus began with a scientific discovery in the remote, arid landscapes of Central Asia. The unearthing of a single fossil specimen provided the first tangible evidence of this swift, carnivorous dinosaur that roamed the Late Cretaceous plains.
The 1923 Expedition
The first Velociraptor fossil was found during the American Museum of Natural History’s Central Asiatic Expeditions (CAE) in the 1920s. Led by explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, the primary goal was to find evidence of early human origins in Asia, a theory supported by museum president Henry Fairfield Osborn. The team used motor cars and camel caravans to traverse the vast Gobi Desert.
Although the team did not find the ancestral human fossils they sought, their paleontological work yielded a large number of dinosaur and mammal remains. The discovery of Velociraptor was a byproduct of this effort. On August 11, 1923, expedition member Peter Kaisen located the specimen that would later define the species, cementing the Gobi Desert as a globally important fossil site.
Pinpointing the Original Discovery Site
The discovery locality was within the Gobi Desert, in what is now Mongolia. This region contains the Djadochta Formation, a geological unit dating to the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 75 to 71 million years ago. The environment was an arid landscape of sand dunes and temporary water sources, which contributed to the excellent preservation of the fossils.
The site is known as the Flaming Cliffs, or Bayan Dzak, named by the expedition team for the striking reddish-orange hue of the sandstone bluffs at sunset. This area is renowned for its abundant and well-preserved dinosaur remains, including those of Protoceratops and Oviraptor. The arid, sand-rich sediments quickly buried and protected the remains of creatures that died on the ancient dunes.
The Original Fossil Specimen
The initial specimen, designated AMNH 6515, became the holotype—the single physical example used to formally define the species. The find consisted of a crushed but largely complete skull, a partial skeleton, and a large toe claw. The skull was notable for its long, low profile and slightly upturned snout, which was lined with serrated teeth.
In 1924, Henry Fairfield Osborn formally described the new genus and species, naming it Velociraptor mongoliensis. The genus name translates from Latin to “swift robber,” reflecting the dinosaur’s presumed predatory nature. Osborn initially misidentified the prominent, sickle-shaped claw, believing it was a manual claw from the hand, when it was actually the specialized claw from the second toe of the foot. This claw, which could grow over 6.5 centimeters, later became the creature’s most famous anatomical feature.
Modern Understanding Versus First Impressions
The original 1924 description presented Velociraptor as a small, lizard-like carnivore, an impression that remained largely unchallenged for decades. Modern discoveries have since corrected misconceptions about its size and appearance. The actual Velociraptor mongoliensis was quite small, standing about half a meter tall and measuring around two meters in length, with a body mass comparable to a large turkey, a contrast to its massive film depiction.
Further research revealed that Velociraptor belonged to a group of dinosaurs closely related to birds. This was confirmed by the 2007 discovery of quill knobs on a forearm fossil. These features are anchor points for large feathers, confirming that the dinosaur was covered in plumage, including prominent feathers on its arms. This realization led scientists to believe the feathered predator used its signature toe claw not for slashing, but likely for restraining struggling prey, similar to the talons of modern raptorial birds.