If you have seen a movie version of Velociraptor, you may picture a tall dinosaur with smooth, scaly skin. Real Velociraptor was smaller, and scientists have strong evidence that it had feathers.
A clue hidden in a bone
In 2007, scientists reported a close look at a fossil forearm bone from Velociraptor. Along the bone were small bumps called quill knobs. In many living birds, similar bumps are places where large feathers attach to the arm bone.
That makes quill knobs an important piece of evidence. Feathers themselves do not always fossilize well. Soft tissues usually disappear much more easily than bones. But a mark left on a bone can survive for millions of years.
Could Velociraptor fly?
Probably not. Having feathers does not automatically mean an animal can fly. Ostriches, emus and penguins are modern examples of birds with feathers that do not fly through the air.
Velociraptor had wing-like arms, but its body and arms were not built for powered flight. Scientists think its feathers may have helped with warmth, display, protecting eggs, or movement.
Why did old pictures look different?
Science changes when new evidence appears. Early dinosaur artwork was based on the best information available at the time. Later, more feathered dinosaur fossils were discovered, and scientists changed their reconstructions.
This is an important part of science: changing an explanation is not a failure. It can be a sign that scientists have found better evidence.
One fossil can change a picture
The quill knobs on one forearm did not tell scientists every detail about Velociraptor's appearance. They did, however, give strong evidence that feathers were attached to the arm. Fossils of close relatives with preserved feathers add even more support.
So the real Velociraptor was not simply a smaller version of the movie monster. It was a feathered, bird-like predator with a long tail, clawed feet and a body shaped by millions of years of evolution.