0 having very dark skin or hair because it contains a higher than normal level of the pigment (= substance that gives colour) known as melanin: --
The presence of a melanistic mask is permitted under the breed standard.
The ears are medium-sized and hanging and may either be melanistic like the muzzle or the same color as the coat.
As these turtles grow older, they tend to become very dark (melanistic) obscuring much of the carapacial design.
The term black panther is used colloquially to refer to melanistic individuals of other species, particularly jaguars and leopards.
The wings are shiny, with slightly transparent edges, and some individuals are darker (melanistic); a general phenomenon common in many butterflies.
This is also found in subspecies "brevirostris", but in this form the melanistic morph is much more common.
Among caterpillars at high densities there are higher frequencies of melanistic phenotypes.
In addition, various color mutations are commonly encountered, mainly melanistic (black) and flavistic (isabelline or fawn) specimens.
