#melanism

[fyanimaldiversity]

Melanistic Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) [x]

[amnhnyc]

It’s National Cat Day! Behold a black cat of epic proportions: this melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus). Also known as “panthers,” leopards can be found across a wide range in Africa and Asia and can reach weights of 198 lbs (90 kg). Individuals like the one pictured are rare in the wild and are affected by a genetic mutation called melanism, which results in their dark coloring. Scientists think there are some advantages that come with having a dusky coat, including being able to more seamlessly blend in with the darkness of the night and take in heat more efficiently in the Sun.

Photo: Darshan Ganapathy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

[todropscience]

During 2022, argentinian researchers studying penguins in Antarctica found a melanistic gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) with an unusual plumage coloration in Esperanza/Hope Bay, north of the Antarctic Peninsula. The unusual coloration of the penguin was identified as melanism, a genetic condition that causes an excess of melanin pigment in feathers, this phenomenon is also found in other vertebrates. This partially black gentoo pengui appeared to be in good health and exhibited normal behavior. According to scientists, melanism is unusual, and may occurs in one in 250,000 penguins.

Reference: Nigro, et al. 2023. A case of melanism in a Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) at Esperanza/Hope Bay, Antarctica. Polar Biol.

[antiqueanimals]

Florida Wildlife; vol. 10, no. 10. March, 1957. Illustration by Wallace Hughes.

Internet Archive

[namu-the-orca]

Cetacean colour anomalies existing as a gradient let's goooooo.

No seriously I love it when this is a thing. Still part of the colour anomalies poster(s) series. Currently 102 illustrations down, and quite a few more to go.

Depicted here are Atlantic spotted dolphin, Pacific white-sided dolphin and Striped dolphin, with various colour-altering afflictions.

[tsalala]

Inka on the prowl Photographed by Ryan Stephens Big Cat Sanctuary, Kent, England

[marinebioblr]

🌑 Black beauty! This manta is an example of the uncommon melanistic manta - a color mutation that results in more dark pigmentation than normal (like the opposite of albinism, which is a lack of pigmentation!) It lacks the white chevron on its back and white belly, making it truly striking.

[dozydawn]

“A rare melanistic fawn spotted in Austin. The fawn’s dark color is the result of excessive amounts of the pigment known as melanin. Though rare, there are more black deer in central Texas than anywhere else.”

[camelidae]

Just a little lady, showing off her polka dots.

[fyanimaldiversity]

Melanistic white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

@ davidfranklin1

[skycowboys]

Jufly days 16 and 18 - Albino and Melanism 

Foal friends :)

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Discord | Patreon | Jufly 2022 Prompts    

[shopcat]

annoys me so much that there's photoshopped melanistic deer going around on here with so many notes like a facebook hoax but nevermind that here are what actual white-tailed deer fawns with melanism can look like including the light spotting which is very cute :)

[antiqueanimals]

The Black Jaguar

A Natural History of British and Foreign Quadrupeds. Written by James H. Fennell. 1843.

Internet Archive

[gr0wlbeast]

Hey tumblr here have some pics of coyotes (and a jackal) with interesting coat colors/patterns!

I saved these for character building/art reference and I figured others may find them useful as well

[tsalala]

Inka’s facial markings Photographed by Ryan Stephens Big Cat Sanctuary, Kent, England