Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor were Theropod dinosaurs feeding on herbivores in Mongolia’s Late Cretaceous Period. These two apex predators couldn’t be more different. The Tarbosaurus was a Tyrannosaurid slightly smaller than the relative Tyrannosaurus rex, the Velociraptor was smaller and lighter. Still, these raptors stuck together, and a pack of Velociraptors could take on a much larger dino when needed.
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Battle Facts about Tarbosaurus & Velociraptor
| Name | Tarbosaurus (Tarbosaurus bataar) | Velociraptor (Velociraptor mongoliensis) |
| Size | 33 feet long, 11-12 feet tall | 5-7 feet long, 2.5-3 feet tall |
| Speed | 25 mph | 25 mph |
| Offense | Large size, sharp teeth, impressive bite force | Pack hunter, agile and quick |
| Defense | Lower jaw locking mechanism, sturdy legs for a steady base | Safety in numbers, sickle claws to slash enemies |
| Endurance and Behavior | Hunter/Scavenger. Heavy frame meant speed was in short bursts | Lighter frame meant this raptor could run 25 mph for longer distances |
Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor were Theropod dinosaurs that lived in Mongolia.
The lifespan of these two apex predators overlapped during the Late Cretaceous Period. With limited resources, these carnivores would’ve competed for food. But who would win, the huge Tarbosaurus or the cunning Velociraptor?
Could the Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor Live Together?
Paleontologists have found Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor fossils in the same area. Since their life spans overlapped, Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor surely lived together. They were both an important part of the ecosystem.
Another large Theropod dinosaur called Therizinosaurus also lived in Mongolia when Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor did. Therizinosaurus were around the size of Tarbosaurus but posed no threat to Tarbosaurus or Velociraptor. That’s because Therizinosaurus was a slow-moving herbivore.
Who Had More Claws, the Tarbosaurus or the Velociraptor?
Velociraptors had more useful claws than Tarbosaurus.
Velociraptors’ forelimbs were used for grabbing and catching prey. It used a long sickle claw on each back foot to slice into the soft tissue of prey or any predators that might try to make a meal out of Velociraptor.
The Tarbosaurus was one of the last Tyrannosaurids, and by the end of their reign, their forelimbs were just hanging nubs.
Tarbosaurus had claws on its hind legs, but the heavy dino couldn’t use those claws the way Velociraptor could. Tarbosaurus kept its feet on the ground, swinging its large head and slicing with sharp teeth instead.
Who was Stronger, the Tarbosaurus, or the Velociraptor?
The Tarbosaurus was stronger than the Velociraptor because of its size and the adaptations.
Tarbosaurus used to eat Hadrosaurs and Sauropods. Their sharp teeth and strong jaws were stronger than any other carnivore in Mongolia.
Velociraptor was built to hunt smaller lizards and mammals. It was quick on its feet and very smart. It used its long claws to slash prey and larger dinos that tried to eat it. Luckily, it didn’t need strength to be a good hunter.
If the Tarbosaurus could catch Velociraptor, the larger dino could easily bite through the turkey-sized raptor.
But Velociraptors could change directions quickly. The only way a Tarbosaurus could catch a Velociraptor would be to surprise the little dino. So far, research within paleontology has not shown any instances of Tarbosaurus eating Velociraptor.
Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor were hunters and scavengers, so the two dinos likely fought over carcasses. A pack of Velociraptors might also take advantage of a Tarbosaurus, especially if it was badly injured.
A well-placed blow from Tarchia’s clubbed tail could cripple Tarbosaurus, leaving it vulnerable to other predators.
Who was faster, the Tarbosaurus or the Velociraptor?
Technically, Tarbosaurus and Velociraptor were tied for speed. Both dinos could run up to 25 mph. That’s as fast as a charging elephant!
Like other Tyrannosaurs, Tarbosaurus was very big and very heavy. Even though Tarbosaurus could hit a maximum speed of 25 mph, just like Velociraptor, Tarbosaurus couldn’t run that fast for very long.
Were there any other notable differences?
The Tarbosaurus preyed on large sick or injured herbivores, and Velociraptors ate mammals and lizards and stole eggs.
The Velociraptor was much smaller than the Tarbosaurus. The Velociraptor was even smaller than movies like Jurassic Park and Jurassic World made them seem. In the movies, they were slightly taller than a full-grown man. In reality, Velociraptors are about the size of a turkey and weigh less than 50 pounds.
Velociraptors had feathers and lighter bones than Tarbosaurus. Their small size and light weight meant they could run longer than Tarbosaurus. Plus, being tiny compared to the Tarbosaurus meant the Velociraptor was much more agile.
This made the Velociraptor harder to catch, just like a mouse running at a max speed of 8mph can easily outrun the much larger human!