Final answer:
The term 'velociraptors' is better understood within the Mesozoic Era, which includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, the time when non-avian dinosaurs like Velociraptor and its relative Deinonychus were most abundant. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, and while Jurassic Park popularized dinosaurs, it contains inaccuracies about velociraptors and their era. The extinction of the dinosaurs is supported by the hypothesis of an extraterrestrial impact event.
Step-by-step explanation:
Owen is considering the topic of "velociraptors" and their depiction in popular media like the Jurassic Park series. In addressing the inquiry about whether Jurassic Park is a fitting name for the franchise based on the actual time period these dinosaurs existed, one must delve into paleontology and the geologic time scale. The Dinosauria clade, excluding the class Aves (birds), was most abundant during the Mesozoic Era, which is subdivided into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Regarding the relationship between birds and dinosaurs, it has been established by scientists that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs such as the Deinonychus, which has often been confused with the velociraptor in popular culture. The Jurassic Park movies, while entertaining, do not always reflect accurate scientific knowledge; for example, the velociraptor is incorrectly portrayed as much larger than its actual size. Nonetheless, studies have supported the hypothesis that an extraterrestrial impact contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs, marking the end of their dominance in the Cretaceous period.