Raptor

There are several types of creatures called raptors in the Warcraft universe. Those in the game are typically hostile and skinnable.

Azeroth raptors

Raptors are large, aggressive theropods (this means, they stand upright on two large hind legs in a bird-like fashion). Trolls use a variety of raptors as a mount. Raptors are found in Durotar, the Barrens, Wailing Caverns, Wetlands, Arathi Highlands, Un'Goro Crater, Stranglethorn Vale, and Dustwallow Marsh. Raptors seem to be very intelligent for beasts. They wear feathers and beads, and in the Barrens (where the smartest raptors are said to dwell) they have a settlement of mud huts decorated with bone ornaments called Raptor Grounds.

Raptors come in many colors, from green-striped red to yellow-striped turquoise. A raptor’s tail extends straight out, held aloft by an intricate structure of bony supports, thus allowing its weight to be carried entirely by the back legs. Raptors weigh about 600 pounds and use a combination of speed, grasping forearms, large teeth, and hind legs with ripping talons. They hunt by running at prey, leaping, and ripping with their rear talons as they claw and bite. A raptor has a relatively large brain for a dinosaur, and its pack hunts with cunning tactics.^[1]^{(HPG 217)}

The savage ferocity of Kalimdor's raptors has enthralled the Darkspear trolls since their arrival. They consider a raptor to be the truest form of a hunter, and as such, the tamed Darkspear Raptor is their mount of choice. A tamed raptor is truly a fearsome beast, as a skilled troll is able to channel the reptilian steed's savagery to suit the rider's will. A tamed raptor is also one of the most auspicious signs of status amongst the trolls; many have died trying to tame these swift and deadly hunter beasts, and to possess one indicates great station.[1]

The raptors of Raptor Ridge once joined forces with Rhonin in the struggle against Sintharia at Grim Batol.

Outland raptors

In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, Outland is inhabited by another type of raptor found in the Netherstorm and Blade's Edge Mountains. Their coloration and body shape is quite different from the raptors of Azeroth, as they feature very bright coloration, glowing eyes, and sharp spikes ridging their spine and tail.

Avian raptors

A dragonhawk — current dragonhawks used by the blood elves are however drastically different.

Some lizards remarkable akin to the common raptor also have the ability to fly. The most common example of these are the flying mounts used by the blood elves and high elves known as dragonhawks. The physiology of the current dragonhawks known to exist make them seem to be more akin to a snake or dragon instead of a raptor.

Biology

Wild raptors come in various colors ranging from pink to turquoise.
Raptors more closely resemble the fictionalized dinosaur of Jurassic Park fame in both shape and intellect rather than actual Velociraptors, though wild ones are more sleek than mounts.
Level 20 riding raptors are larger than wild raptors.
Level 20 riding raptors have a large curved horn protruding horizontally from their forehead.
Level 20 riding raptors have small fins growing from the tops of their head and hips.
Level 20 riding raptors come in violet with blue stripes, turquoise with yellow stripes, and emerald with yellow stripes.
Epic riding raptors are slightly larger than level 20 riding raptors.
Epic riding raptors are usually decorated with colorful armor and feathers.
Epic riding raptors come in blue, olive, orange, black (PvP reward), and green (Swift Razzashi Raptor).

Hunter pet

Specialization (upon taming)
Ferocity
The Raptor eats

The Raptor comes with

All pets come with

Raptors come in a wide variety of bright colors, making them popular to use.

Though hunters can respec their pet raptors into Cunning or Tenacity, they are inherently Ferocity. In addition to the abilities that come standard with all pets ([Growl] and [Avoidance]) and those given to their natural or retrained specialization, all raptors are given the following:

Subspecies

Ravasaur - Large, social raptors dwelling in the Un'Goro Crater.

The subspecies below can be tamed by hunters. Troll hunters start with a ravasaur.

Black

[10] Fez
[26 Rare] Saurix
[38] Goreclaw the Ravenous
[50-51] Venomhide Ravasaur

Blue

[16-17] Deviate Slayer
[18-19 Elite] Deviate Guardian
[22] Mottled Screecher
[28] Tethis
[49-50] Ravasaur Runner
[56] Lar'korwi (spawned, The Bait for Lar'korwi)
[76-77] Gundrak Raptor (also grey)

Green

[22-23] Highland Scytheclaw
[39 Rare] Nychus
[50 Rare] Ravasaur Matriarch

Grey

[9] Screamslash
[14 Rare] Takk the Leaper
[15-17] Deviate Stalker
[18] King Reaperclaw
[48 Rare] Avis

[22-23] Highland Razormaw
[24-25] Stranglethorn Raptor
[25] Elder Razormaw
[25-26] Lashtail Raptor
[27-28] Highland Thrasher
[30-31] Terrortooth Scytheclaw
[38 Rare] Dart
[75-81] Drakkari Raptor Mount (mount model)
[87] Gurubashi Riding Raptor (mount model, also red)

[11-12] Sunscale Raptor
[11-13] Sunscale Lashtail
[13-15] Sunscale Screecher
[14-15] Sunscale Ravager
[15-16] Deviate Creeper
[16] Sunscale Consort
[16-18] Sunscale Scytheclaw
[18-19 Elite] Deviate Ravager
[22] Mottled Ravager
[26-27] Jungle Stalker
[28-29] Ravasaur
[48-50] Lar'korwi Mate (spawned, The Scent of Lar'korwi)
[49-50] Ravasaur Hunter

Red

[2-3] Bloodtalon Raptor
[6-7] Bloodtalon Taillasher
[8-9] Bloodtalon Scythemaw
[24-25] Highland Lashtail
[29-30] Terrortooth Runner
[36-37] Bloodfen Raptor
[36-37] Bloodfen Screecher
[37-38] Bloodfen Lashtail

Yellow

[25 Rare] Razormaw Matriarch
[25-26] Highland Strider
[28-29] Highland Fleshstaler

Black

[7-8] Spiny Raptor (goblin only, Lost Isles; also blue, green, and red)
[65-66] Daggermaw Blackhide
[67 Elite] Bladespire Ravager
[74] Drakkari Scytheclaw

Blue

[28 Rare] Tenok
[74-75] Drakuru Raptor

Brown

[5-6] Teraptor Hatchling (goblin only, Lost Isles)
[31-32] Deviate Terrortooth
[65-66] Bladespire Raptor
[68-69] Scythetooth Raptor

Green

[53 Rare] Chupacabros
[67-68] Felsworn Daggermaw
[74] Drakkari Gutripper

Red

[2-3] Corrupted Bloodtalon
[66-67] Daggermaw Lashtail

Named

Mobs with levels can be tamed by hunters.

[48 Rare] Avis
Butcher
[53 Rare] Chupacabros
[38 Rare] Dart
[10] Fez
[38] Goreclaw the Ravenous
[18] King Reaperclaw
[56] Lar'korwi
[39 Rare] Nychus
[50 Rare] Ravasaur Matriarch
[25 Rare] Razormaw Matriarch
Rek'tor
[26 Rare] Saurix
[9] Screamslash
Subject 4
Swiftclaw
[14 Rare] Takk the Leaper
[28 Rare] Tenok
Teraptor Matriarch
[28] Tethis

Vanity/Battle pets

Originally introduced in patch 3.2, there are now a total of nine Raptor Mini-Pets.

Darting Hatchling (Dart's Nest, Dustwallow Marsh)
Deviate Hatchling (Deviate Guardian, Deviate Ravager, Wailing Caverns; 0.1% rate)
Gundrak Hatchling (Gundrak Raptor, Zul'Drak; 0.1% rate)
Lashtail Hatchling (An Old Friend)
Leaping Hatchling (Takk's Nest, Northern Barrens)
Obsidian Hatchling (from Breanni, Dalaran; 50)
Ravasaur Hatchling (Ravasaur Matriarch's Nest, Un'Goro Crater)
Razormaw Hatchling (Razormaw Matriarch's Nest, Wetlands)
Razzashi Hatchling (drop, Northern Stranglethorn/Cape of Stranglethorn; 0.01% rate)

Mounts

Main article: Raptor mounts

Raptor mounts at Sen'jin Village.

Raptor are sold by Zjolnir located in south Durotar by Sen'jin Village. Samamba, the Sen'jin Quartermaster in Icecrown, also sells two unique Raptors. There are also several rare raptors all over Azeroth.

Mount Name		Availability	Required riding skill	Required Level
Emerald Raptor	[Whistle of the Emerald Raptor]	1	Riding (75)	20
Turquoise Raptor	[Whistle of the Turquoise Raptor]	1	Riding (75)	20
Violet Raptor	[Whistle of the Violet Raptor]	1	Riding (75)	20
Swift Blue Raptor	[Swift Blue Raptor]	10	Riding (150)	40
Swift Olive Raptor	[Swift Olive Raptor]	10	Riding (150)	40
Swift Orange Raptor	[Swift Orange Raptor]	10	Riding (150)	40
Black War Raptor	[Black War Raptor]	PVP	Riding (150)	40
Darkspear Raptor	[Darkspear Raptor]	100	Riding (150)	40
Swift Purple Raptor	[Swift Purple Raptor]	5 500	Riding (150)	40
Swift Razzashi Raptor	[Swift Razzashi Raptor]	Bloodlord Mandokir	Riding (150)	40
Venomhide Ravasaur	[Venomhide Ravasaur]	Mor'vek	Riding (150)	53
Ivory Raptor	[Whistle of the Ivory Raptor]	No Longer Attainable
Mottled Red Raptor	[Whistle of the Mottled Red Raptor]	No Longer Attainable

Trivia

Raptor is also the name of small predator dinosaurs, like Velociraptors. But more scientific is Dromaeosauridae.

Patch changes

/ Patch 4.0.1 (12-Oct-2010): Ability changes. Savage Rend replaced by Tear Armor.
Patch 3.1.0 (14-Apr-2009): Bonuses equalized. Damage had a +10% bonus and now has +5% bonus. Armor had no bonus and now has a +5% bonus.
/ Patch 3.0.2 (14-Oct-2008): Major changes. Bite replaced with Savage Rend. Armor had a +3% bonus and now has no bonus. Health had a -5% penalty and now has +5% bonus.
Patch 2.2.0 (25-Sep-2007): Dash is trainable on all raptors.