Talk:Velociraptor/@comment-30510983-20160914001957/@comment-10943908-20160924013625

All valid points, especially your reference to modern animals of the size of Velociraptor not generally hunting in packs. However, we don't really have much a creature which fits exactly with Velociraptor's ecological niche at this moment. I suppose that something like the Hyena, the Cheetah, the Wolf, or the Fox might be somewhat similarly suited to its environment, and of those, the first three are all known to hunt in packs*.

However, there are variations in hunting strategy among larger groups of species such as the modern equivalents of the deinonychosauria. Lynx and Cougars, for example, are solitary†, while Lions and the aforementioned Cheetah's hunt in packs. The same is true amongst the canine relatives which were mentioned. What is to say that there might have been some Deinonychosaurids which hunted in packs, and some which wandered alone?

Well, all very interesting points from everyone. While researching the evidence on this pack behaviour I came across this article, which I found sums up many of the facts of this debate rather eloquently. Enjoy it if you wish: https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2011/mar/29/dinosaurs-behaviour-raptors-pack-hunters


 * The Cheetah is particularly interesting among these three. I only just learned about its "Coalition" hunting strategy while writing this response. I'd heavily advise anyone who doesn't know about it to research it immediately!

† Interestingly, there seems to be a trend among African felines to hunt in packs more often than their North American relatives. That might just be a faulty obsevation of mine based on false evidence; if it is, please inform me of that expediently!