Spot the stripy tail (Image: Chuang Zhao and Lida Xing) Tiny organelles known as melanosomes produce the vivid colours found in feathers and hair. Close examination of this zebra finch feather using a scanning electron microscope revealed that sausage-shaped eumelanosomes produce a black hue, while spherical phaeomelanosomes produce an orange-brown colour. (Image: © University of Bristol) This photo of a 125-million-year-old fossil of Sinosauropteryx, a flightless, meat-eating dinosaur reveals alternating bands of light and dark feathers running along its head and down the middle of its back. Samples were taken from a dark stripe located at the tail base (see arrow) …