Chemical, experimental, and morphological evidence for diagenetically altered melanin in exceptionally preserved fossils

Significance Melanin is a widespread pigment that provides black to reddish brown hues to organisms. Recent evidence has shown that melanin is retained in exceptionally preserved fossils, including feathered dinosaurs, allowing the reconstruction of ancient color patterns. However, little is known about the chemical preservation of melanin or its distribution in the fossil record. Here, we show that melanin is preserved in a number of...