What is the scientific name for the VELOCIRAPTOR?

Question

my daughter is doing a report for the 2nd grade and needs the scientific name for the velociraptor.. it "means " speedy thief" but that is not the scientific name..IS IT?

Answer 1

While the birds of prey (falcons, eagles, hawks) are indeed called raptors, the name for that group of predatory birds is also based on the original latin name for thief, which is raptor.

So Velociraptor does indeed mean 'speedy thief'.

Velociraptor is the genus name for the small, predatory Dromaeosaurid dinosaur.

There is currently only one recognized species in the Genus, and that is Velociraptor mongoliensis. That is indeed the scientific name for the Velociraptor.

Unlike most living animals, dinosaurs don't really have 'common' names besides their scientific names, since they didn't have names before scientists described them.

This saves a lot of confusion amongst scientists, because they know exactly what is being talked about when someone says 'velociraptor', unlike a non-scientific common name, like 'panther', 'elk' or 'daddy longlegs'.

However, it sometimes creates confusion amongst the public when the taxonomy is revised and the scientific names of critters change - so that Brontosaurus becomes Apatosaurus or Velociraptor antirrhopus becomes Deinonychus antirrhopus. It makes perfect sense if you know the science behind the revision, but not so much if you're just reading about dinosaurs in a book, or seeing them in movies.

Answer 2

Velociraptor Antirrhopus

Answer 3

The full Scientific Name is Velociraptor mongoliensis.

Answer 4

Most extinct animals are commonly known by their scientific names. Tyrannosaurus rex (Tyrant Lizard king), Triceratops (Three horned face) and Velociraptor mongoliensis (Swift Robber from mongolia) are all the scientific names for the animals. Yes, it means "Swift Robber" in ancient Greek, not Bird of Prey, as commonly thought.
Some facts about Velociraptor: it was small, about 2.5 feet tall and 6 feet long, it most probably had feathers covering its body like a bird, estemated speed would be around 15 to 20 mph, it was quite intelligent, about as much so as a small monkey, stiff bony rods stiffened the tail so as to act as a balancing pole while the animal kicked with its feet at prey, and it lived in a desert climate puctuated with oases and small jungles. Other dinosaurs that lived with Velociraptor were Oviraptor, Shuvuua and Protoceratops.

Answer 5

Velociraptor mongoliensis

Answer 6

Velociraptor is a genus name. People believe that there was at least two species (one that lived in Asia and one that lived in the Americas.) But only one has been named. The current species name is mongoliensis after the place it was found (Mongolia).

Answer 7

It does not mean "speedy thief". It means "swift bird of prey". Velociraptor is in fact the correct scientific name for this dinosaur.

Answer 8

It sure is the scientific name. There was another name which it used to be known and that was ovoraptor which is not the official name.

Answer 9

V. mongoliensis