Paleontologists in China have identified a new species of pterosaur, dubbed Astrodactylus celestia, from remarkably well-preserved fossils in the Liaoning Province. The specimen, dating to the Late Jurassic, features unique structural patterns on its crest that researchers believe may have supported bioluminescent tissues for nocturnal signaling or courtship displays.
The fossil includes intact impressions of the wing membranes, revealing a sophisticated network of fibers that suggest the creature was an exceptionally agile flyer. This finding effectively challenges existing models of pterosaur evolution and behavior, suggesting that early flying reptiles utilized visual communication in ways previously unrecorded in the fossil record.