Before humans, dinosaurs roamed this Earth for 165 million years. One of the favorites amongst kids and adults is the velociraptor. Since today is National Velociraptor Awareness Day, here are some cool facts about them!

The velociraptor got its name in 1924 by Henry Fairfield Osborn. At the time, he was the president of the American Museum of Natural History.

Velociraptors thrived during the Cretaceous Period in Asia. They are similar to the North American Deinonychus.

Jurassic Park is actually not modeled after velociraptors, but the Deinonychus dinosaur.

They are sickle-clawed with large claws on each foot. They are about 6 feet tall and weigh 100 pounds.

Velociraptors had feathers, not reptile-like scaly skin. They used their feathers to regulate their body temperature, attract mates, and protect their eggs.

As a carnivore, velociraptors hunted for small foods such as insects, small dinosaurs, and reptiles.

Peter Kaisen discovered the first Velociraptor fossil on the 1923 expedition to the Gobi Desert. He found a crushed skull and a toe claw.

Hope you learned something new about Velociraptors! Let us know what your favorite dinosaur is & a random fact about them!