When you think of Velociraptor, this is probably the first thing that comes to mind... the famous sickle claw.
This curved claw came from the second toe of each foot and is one of the defining features of the raptor family. It was held clear of the ground while walking, helping to keep it razor sharp and ready for use.
For years, films showed these claws as giant slashing weapons. Today, many palaeontologists think they were more likely used to grip and pin struggling prey, much like the talons of modern birds of prey.
One of the biggest surprises is just how small a real Velociraptor actually was. Rather than towering over people like in the films, it stood around waist height and was roughly the size of a turkey. The claw itself was only around 6.5 cm long, although the living animal would have had a keratin covering that made it a little longer and even sharper.
It's a great reminder that some of the most famous fossils aren't always the biggest. Sometimes, a single claw can completely change the way we imagine an animal that lived over 70 million years ago.
Fun fact: The name Velociraptor comes from the Latin velox meaning "swift" and raptor meaning "robber" or "plunderer". So together, the name basically translates to "swift thief."
