Melanin largely determines skin and fur colors. The more of this substance ... This is how we know that the Microraptor, a small dinosaur, had glossy, raven-black feathers or that Sinosauropteryx ...

Like its non-flying close relatives, Microraptor had elongated bones lining the top and underside of its tail, forming a stiff counterbalance that allowed the animal to keep its center of gravity ...

With its four wings and a long, bony tail, Microraptor was unlike any bird alive today. This is because it was a dinosaur—one that evolved long after the first known bird, Archaeopteryx ...