Melanism

Melanism is an increased amount of black or nearly black pigmentation (as of skin, feathers, or hair) of an individual or kind of organism. More technically, it refers to a phenotype in which the pigmentation of an organism is entirely, or nearly entirely, expressed.

Related Topics:
Pigmentation - Skin - Feather - Hair - Phenotype

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Examples include leopards, tigers, coral snakes, squirrels, etc.

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Leopards, pumas and jaguars with this condition are often called panthers or black panthers. However, leopards, jaguars, lions and tigers are all members of the Panthera genus.

Related Topics:
Leopard - Puma - Jaguar - Panthers - Panthera

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See also:

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• albinism