The Claws of the Velociraptor
In The Claws of the Velociraptor, naturalist Steve Backshall shows how this dinosaur’s pointed claws were useful in a unique way. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
Lesson Express
Q: What was Velociraptor's secret skill?
A: It used its claws to puncture prey and to climb.
Q: What were Velociraptor's claws compared with in the video?
A: The claws of Velociraptor were compared with the spikes that a tree climber might wear in order to climb a tree.
Q: How do the spikes on the tree climber’s shoes and the claws of Velociraptor make climbing easier?
A: Both the claws and the shoe spikes dig into the tree or pole to propel the individual up instead of allowing them slipping back down.
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