Dinosaur feathers

Small structures named melanosomes vary in colour depending on their shape: Black ones are sausage-like, and reds are round. A well-preserved M.guid feather shone raven. Nanostructures also suggest it had an iridescent sheen.

Close relatives to the T. rex have protofeathers on their heads, backs, and tails, suggesting that the T. rex may have had too.