8 Animals Most Prone to Melanism

1. Indian Leopards (Panthera pardus fusca)

Leopards are probably one of the most common examples of melanistic species in the world. In shadows, these cats look fully black, but in the light, their spots are still visible, appearing much like you’d see on a typical big cat.

The Indian leopard is one type that frequently shows signs of melanism. It’s theorized that since the jungles are so dark, the darker fur color keeps them hidden from their prey longer.

This is a form of melanism known as adaptive melanism. This is because animals are adapting to fit into their surroundings. In this case, it’s to hide from predators, but sometimes it can also be used to protect them from the harmful rays of the sun.

2. Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)

The rapid evolution of peppered moths is widely talked about in the science world. Before the 1800s, melanistic peppered moths were easily noticed and picked off by birds.

However, in 1848, black peppered moths became a common sight. Why is this? The industrial revolution, of course. Because of the amount of coal people burned, much of the surrounding area was coated in black soot.

Normal peppered moths stood out amongst the dark buildings and were picked off. So darker moths grew more and more common, especially in urban areas. This is a form of melanism known as industrial melanism. It’s called such because it was brought on by people and the changes people made in the world due to the industrial revolution.

3. Pygmy Grasshoppers (Tetrix subulata)

Even little grasshoppers show signs of adaptive melanism. If there’s a fire in the area, you’re much more likely to see melanistic pygmy grasshoppers. This adaption happens quite quickly, and the color of the population changes from year to year based on the number of fires.

Because this species only appears to show signs of melanism around the time that fires occur, their melanism was given a specific name, “fire melanism.” It is a beneficial practice for the pygmy grasshopper, as it allows them to stay hidden in the darker soil and burnt plants after a fire.

4. Rock Pocket Mice

Rock pocket mice in southern Arizona display a unique case of melanism. It’s only one population of this mouse species, but the darker coloring is present in almost all individuals in this population.

While rock pocket mice technically aren’t animals prone to melanism, they have a whole population in Arizona that is darker than the rest of the species. This is because this group lives on top of the Pinacate lava flow and they are better able to blend into their surroundings.

However, other populations nearby are starting to demonstrate melanism. There’s a group in New Mexico also showing more melanism than normal, although it hasn’t yet been determined if this is an independent change or if the populations mixed.

5. Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)

For a long time, it was thought that the melanistic groups of gray partridges were different from the regular ones. This is because these darker birds had different preferences in habitat.

This means that eventually, it’s possible that the gray partridge and the melanistic partridge could grow apart and become separate species. However, that’s currently not the case.

As for why these birds are different colors, it’s due to their habitat. Melanistic gray partridges tend to live in areas with darker habitats, specifically in areas where there’s a darker species of peat. They have a darker appearance to blend in better.

6. Turtle-Headed Sea Snakes (Emydocephalus annulatus)

The melanin in turtle-headed sea snakes serves a very different purpose than the other animals on this list. It’s not to help them avoid predation or hide from their potential prey.

Instead, it’s used to help them remove pollutants in the body. That’s right, by having more melanin in the skin, these snakes can concentrate pollutants in their body onto their skin. Then, when they shed, they remove the pollutants as well.

This melanism is found in areas where water is heavily polluted. It allows the turtle-headed sea snake to live in areas that might otherwise be too contaminated for survival.

7. Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)

Like the gray partridge, the oncillas that are melanistic have slightly different behaviors than the normal-colored oncillas. Those with extra melanin in their bodies are more likely to hunt on brighter nights.

This is because they hide better, even when it’s bright out. However, the lighter-colored cats have to be a bit more selective. On brighter nights, it’s easier for their prey to see them.

It is thought that by having melanistic counterparts in a species, the animal fills a wider niche, or moves to a niche where there’s not as much competition from other predators.

8. Wolves

Another unique type of melanism appears in wolves. Most wolves appear gray or brownish. However, sightings of black wolves have gone up in recent years.

It may lead you to believe that the cause for this change comes from humans. In a way it is, but not how you might expect.

The black coloring in wolves actually comes from hybridization. Certain dog breeds primarily have black fur. When they mated with wild wolves, they shared this trait.

So in reality, it’s not wolves that are showing signs of increased melanism, but their hybrid offspring with domesticated dogs.