Fig. (1) Putative but unproven “dinosaur protofeathers” strongly resemble dermal collagen fibers [6], shown here from (a) skin of a decomposing dophin [4]. Protofeathers or collagen fibers? Decomposing collagen fiber bundles in the hypodermis of a dolphin, Tursiops. (A, B) Plume-like patterns of some of the fibers along the edges of the decomposing tissue. Many groups of fibers have narrow points of attachment (bottom arrow) that broaden before tapering again (due to degradation), giving the flame-like shape (top arrows). (C) Thick fiber bundles showing disorganization of the finer fibers and bundles to produce overlapping featherlike patterns. D) Detail of large fiber bundles showing component fibers during degradation, producing branching patterns among the filaments (adapted and modified from Lingham-Soliar⁴, courtesy Lingham-Soliar).