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.

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

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.

See also:

• albinism