Velociraptor

Expansion: Extinct Animals

Fame: 0.5 stars

Base Donation Amount: 60

Max Tour Value: 40

Adopt Rarity: 1

Prey Classification: Medium Predator (adult), Small Predator (young)

Zoopedia

Conservation Status: Extinct

Class: Sauropods[sic] (Sauropsida)

Order: Theropods (Theropoda)

Family: Raptors (Dromaeosauridae)

Genus: Velociraptor

Species: mongoliensis

Desert

Central Asia

To unlock the velociraptor in challenge or campaign games, you must earn a 1/2-star zoo fame rating for your zoo.

Velociraptor mongoliensis lived during the Cretaceous Period and became extinct about 70 million years ago. It belongs to a group of dinosaurs that has been linked to Archaeopteryx -- also known as ancient birds. In fact, these dinosaurs are often referred to as "raptors," a term that is also used to describe modern birds of prey such as vultures and falcons. Much smaller than its immense cousin Deinonychus, wolf-size Velociraptor walked on its hind legs and used its long tail for balance. It was agile and quick. Although its hindquarters were much larger than its puny arms, the Velociraptor made up for their lack of size with nimble hands that it used to grasp its struggling dinner. Velociraptor is best known for the vicious, curved claw on each of its hind feet that it used to kill its prey.

Diet: carnivore; size: 1.8 m (6 ft) long; weight: 45 kg (100 lb).

Fun Velociraptor Facts

Errors and Trivia (strap in)

The Zoopedia entry refers to sauropsids as "sauropods", and Velociraptor is... definitely not a sauropod. Nor are turtles, as far as we know. The common name to use would be sauropsids. Or maybe just reptiles.

There is another typo in the fun facts: "Dromaeosaridae" vs. Dromaeosauridae.

Many ornithologists absolutely despise that "raptors" has been co-opted to refer to extinct animals instead of the very extant predatory birds that you can watch hunt stuff right now. Counter-argument: "birds of prey" already exists for the exact same concept, but dromaeosaurs don't have a snazzy common name that gets people interested in them. My take? It actually doesn't matter in the slightest.

Unfortunately we've gotten to the part of the article that nobody was looking forward to: how scientists made dinosaurs woke by putting dumb feathers on them. And unfortunately I am in the pro-feathers camp because of the many fossils that exist of Velociraptor-like animals with feathers on them. You are allowed to like the fictional creature better. I like fictional creatures too! Dragons, sea serpents, Godzilla, honest politicians, and Star Wars aliens are all cool fantasy concepts that I want to see more of. You know what I also like and want to see more of? Giant land eagles, with teeth and giant claws.

The feather argument is not helped by the style of "lizard with pillow fluff glued onto it" art that came out of the 90s and 2000s, including this one right here. It just looks like a bad dragon. It needs a full body covering and *wings*, like an ostrich.

Also the wrists of all non-avian theropods in Zoo Tycoon 2, including Velociraptor, are broken. The palms should be facing towards each other.

Velociraptor Exhibit Guide

Velociraptor has the smallest space requirements out of any starter animal, which is balanced by the extinct cloning tax, needing 2+ animals, and being a Medium Predator, which severely limits its multispecies exhibit potential. While it does not have strict privacy needs, it needs one for rest.

The cheapest exhibit plan I could find that takes up more than 22.5 squares is an oblique square costing $1,050. In the future I may do an article on how using diagonals affects Zoo Tycoon 2 fencing costs.

Adoption cost: $3,000

Space for first animal: 17.5 squares (70 triangles)

Space per additional animal: 5 squares (20 triangles)

Cheapest Fence: Chain link fence or hedge fence, $75/square, $900 total for a 1-animal exhibit

Food: Meat or dinosaur meat, cheapest $150

Enrichment: None required, uses rubber toys/balls, beef shank, heat lamp, live lizard, or block of ice with beef shank

Shelter: Uses shade structure, wooden shelters, rock shelter, rock caves, or kopje, cheapest $200

Native Biome: Desert (+3)

Other Compatible Biomes: Scrub (0)

Swims?: No

Total Cost: $7,400 for a 2-animal exhibit, excluding foliage or rocks


Compatible Animals (Desert):

Compatible Animals (Other Biomes):

*Will eat baby Velociraptor.

†Will have their babies eaten by Velociraptor.