Introduction

velossa raf s were not particularly famous dinosaurs until 19 90, when michael creton's novel jurassic park was published. They are portrayed as scaly creatures about six feet in height from present day montana criton's velosa rapters. The actual creatures lived in the late cretaceous period, some 70 million years ago and weighed less than 15 kilograms. In fact, they were probably mostly scavengers, eating meat from already dead carcasses. And indeed, when the national basketball association expanded into canada in 19 95, toronto chose as its team name the rapters.