Is it a bird? Is it a lizard? No, it’s the Shuvuuia, a bird-like dinosaur from back in the day (way, way back in the day) that was around the same size as a chicken. Recently, scientists discovered that this species of theropod dinosaur had special sensory adaptations that allowed it to hunt in the dark like modern-day barn owls do.

As well as extraordinary hearing, the eyes of the Shuvuuia have some of the largest pupils yet measured in birds or dinosaurs, suggesting their night vision was next level. It may have been an efficient hunter, but the Shuvuuia was one odd looking creature. Below its bird-like head, the tiny dinosaur had stocky arms with a single claw on each hand and long roadrunner-like legs.