Meet Darwinopterus modularis—the sky-gliding rule-breaker of the Middle Jurassic! Living around 160 million years ago in what is now China, this pterosaur wasn’t technically a dinosaur, but it’s one of the coolest prehistoric creatures to ever take flight. With long wings, sharp teeth, and a head that looked surprisingly modern, Darwinopterus was an evolutionary mash-up that has scientists buzzing.

Named in honor of Charles Darwin, Darwinopterus was a “transitional fossil”—a species that blended features of both early and more advanced pterosaurs. It had a long tail like older species, but a sleek, modern skull like the newer ones. This odd combo showed that different parts of a body could evolve at different rates—a concept called “modular evolution.” Basically, Darwinopterus was nature’s version of building with interchangeable parts!