Editing Velociraptor (section)

==Paleoenvironment==
===Bayan Mandahu Formation===
[[File:Linheraptor exquisitus.jpg|thumb|Restoration of related ''Linheraptor'' in paleoenvironment]] 
In both [[Bayan Mandahu Formation|Bayan Mandahu]] and Djadochta formations many of the same genera were present, though they varied at the species level. These differences in species composition may be due a natural barrier separating the two formations, which are relatively close to each other geographically.<ref name=PGetal2008 /> However, given the lack of any known barrier which would cause the specific faunal compositions found in these areas, it is more likely that those differences indicate a slight time difference.<ref name="Longrichetal10"/>

''V. osmolskae'' lived alongside the ankylosaurid ''[[Pinacosaurus mephistocephalus]]''; alvarezsaurid ''[[Linhenykus]]''; closely related dromaeosaurid ''[[Linheraptor]]''; oviraptorids ''[[Machairasaurus]]'' and ''[[Wulatelong]]''; protoceratopsids ''[[Bagaceratops]]'' and ''[[Protoceratops hellenikorhinus]]''; and troodontids ''[[Linhevenator]]'', ''[[Papiliovenator]]'', and ''[[Philovenator]]''.<ref name="Longrichetal10">{{cite journal|author1=Nicholas R. Longrich |author2=Philip J. Currie |author3=Dong Zhi-Ming |year=2010 |title=A new oviraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia |journal=Palaeontology |volume=53 |issue=5 |pages=945–960 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00968.x|bibcode=2010Palgy..53..945L |doi-access=free }}</ref> Sediments across the formation indicate a similar depositional environment to that of the Djadochta Formation.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Eberth|first1=D. A.|date=1993|title=Depositional environments and facies transitions of dinosaur-bearing Upper Cretaceous redbeds at Bayan Mandahu (Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China)|journal=Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences|volume=30|number=10|pages=2196–2213|doi=10.1139/e93-191|bibcode=1993CaJES..30.2196E }}</ref>

===Djadochta Formation===
[[File:Velociraptor mongoliensis.jpg|thumb|left|Restoration of ''V. mongoliensis'' in the arid Djadochta settings]]
Known specimens of ''Velociraptor mongoliensis'' have been recovered from the [[Djadochta Formation]] (also spelled Djadokhta), in the [[Mongolia]]n province of [[Ömnögovi Province|Ömnögovi]]. This [[geological formation]] is estimated to date back to the [[Campanian]] [[Stage (stratigraphy)|stage]] (between 75 million and 71 million years ago) of the [[Late Cretaceous]] [[Geologic time scale#Divisions of geologic time|epoch]].<ref name=Dashzeveg2005>{{cite journal|last1=Dashzeveg|first1=D.|last2=Dingus|first2=L.|last3=Loope|first3=D. B.|last4=Swisher III|first4=C. C.|last5=Dulam|first5=T.|last6=Sweeney|first6=M. R.|date=2005|title=New Stratigraphic Subdivision, Depositional Environment, and Age Estimate for the Upper Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation, Southern Ulan Nur Basin, Mongolia|journal=American Museum Novitates|number=3498|pages=1–31|doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2005)498[0001:NSSDEA]2.0.CO;2|hdl=2246/5667|s2cid=55836458|hdl-access=free|url=http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/5667/N3498.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|archive-date=1 January 2022|access-date=28 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101224659/https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/5667/N3498.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|url-status=live}}</ref> The abundant sediments—[[sand]]s, [[sandstone]]s, or [[caliche]]—of the Djadochta Formation were deposited by [[Aeolian processes|eolian]] (wind) processes in arid settings with fields of sand [[dune]]s and only intermittent [[stream]]s, as indicated by very sparse [[fluvial]] (river-deposited) sedimentation, under a [[semi-arid climate]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jerzykiewicz|first1=T.|year=1997|chapter=Djadokhta Formation|editor-last1=Currie|editor-first1=P. J.|editor-last2=Padian|editor-first2=K.|title=Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs|url-access=limited|publisher=Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadino00curr_075/page/n218 188]−191|isbn=978-0-12-226810-6|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadino00curr_075}}</ref><ref name=Dashzeveg2005/><ref name=Dingus2008>{{cite journal|last1=Dingus|first1=L.|last2=Loope|first2=D. B.|last3=Dashzeveg|first3=D.|last4=Swisher III|first4=C. C.|last5=Minjin|first5=C.|last6=Novacek|first6=M. J.|last7=Norell|first7=M. A.|date=2008|title=The Geology of Ukhaa Tolgod (Djadokhta Formation, Upper Cretaceous, Nemegt Basin, Mongolia)|journal=American Museum Novitates|number=3616|pages=1–40|doi=10.1206/442.1|hdl=2246/5916|s2cid=129735494|url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1218&context=geosciencefacpub|hdl-access=free|archive-date=5 August 2022|access-date=27 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805093444/https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1218&context=geosciencefacpub|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Djadochta Formation is separated into a lower Bayn Dzak Member and upper Turgrugyin Member. ''V. mongoliensis'' is known from both members, represented by numerous specimens.<ref name=Dashzeveg2005/> The Bayn Dzak Member (mainly Bayn Dzak locality)  has yielded the oviraptorid ''[[Oviraptor]]''; ankylosaurid ''[[Pinacosaurus grangeri]]''; protoceratopsid ''[[Protoceratops andrewsi]]''; and troodontid ''[[Saurornithoides]]''.<ref name=osborn1924a/><ref name=Dashzeveg2005/> The younger Turgrugyin Member (mainly Tugriken Shireh locality) has produced the bird ''[[Elsornis]]''; dromaeosaurid ''[[Mahakala omnogovae|Mahakala]]'': ornithomimid ''[[Aepyornithomimus]]''; and protoceratopsid ''Protoceratops andrewsi''.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Turner|first1=A. H.|last2=Pol|first2=D.|last3=Clarke|first3=J. A.|last4=Erickson|first4=G. M.|last5=Norell|first5=M. A.|date=2007|title=A Basal Dromaeosaurid and Size Evolution Preceding Avian Flight|journal=Science|volume=317|issue=5843|pages=1378–1381|bibcode=2007Sci...317.1378T|doi=10.1126/science.1144066|doi-access=free|pmid=17823350}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Chinzorig|first1=T.|last2=Kobayashi|first2=Y.|last3=Tsogtbaatar|first3=K.|last4=Currie|first4=P. J.|last5=Watabe|first5=M.|last6=Barsbold|first6=R.|date=2017|title=First Ornithomimid (Theropoda, Ornithomimosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation of Tögrögiin Shiree, Mongolia|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=7|issue=5835|page=5835 |bibcode=2017NatSR...7.5835C|doi=10.1038/s41598-017-05272-6|doi-access=free|pmc=5517598|pmid=28724887}}</ref>

''V. mongoliensis'' has been found at many of the most famous and prolific Djadochta localities. The type specimen was discovered at the [[Flaming Cliffs]] site (sublocality of the larger Bayn Dzak locality/region),<ref name=osborn1924a/> while the "Fighting Dinosaurs" were found at the Tugrik Shire locality (also known as Tugrugeen Shireh and many other spellings).<ref name=kjbarsbold1972/> The latter is notorious for its exceptional ''[[in situ]]'' fossil preservation. Based on deposits (such as structureless sandstones), it has been concluded that a large number of specimens were buried alive during powerful sand-bearing events, common to these paleoenvironments.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Saneyoshi|first1=M.|last2=Watabe|first2=M.|last3=Suzuki|first3=S.|last4=Tsogtbaatar|first4=K.|date=2011|title=Trace fossils on dinosaur bones from Upper Cretaceous eolian deposits in Mongolia: Taphonomic interpretation of paleoecosystems in ancient desert environments|journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology|volume=311|issue=1–2|pages=38–47|bibcode=2011PPP...311...38S|doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.07.024|url=https://www.academia.edu/27857932|archive-date=8 October 2022|access-date=28 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008180700/https://www.academia.edu/27857932|url-status=live}}</ref>