By Sheetal Kumari | October 23, 2025
Melanistic leopards and jaguars with black coats. Rosette patterns still show up in some light, making them elusive forest stalker species.
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Limited melanistic tigers in India’s reserves. Dark, thick stripes camouflage their orange fur, making them nearly invisible in shadows.
Image: Canva
North America’s uncommon grey wolf variation. Dark-coloured fur results from a genetic mutation passed down from domesticated dogs.
Image: Canva
Black foxes, such as silver foxes. Dark coats give them a shadowy appearance when hunting and travelling in woodlands.
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A melanistic eastern grey squirrel in North America. Dark fur can assist in survival in cold temperatures.
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Indonesian primate with glossy black coat and tufted head. Its naturally dark coat covers its body.
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Uncommon grey seals where the whole coat is melanic, with a black-coloured complexion. This happens roughly once in every 400 seals.
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Indigenous to Australia. Black coat with red bill; white flight feathers only visible in flight.
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Non-venomous North American snake. Glossy black adults are good climbers, although juveniles tend to be lighter.
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Rare all-black penguin. A king penguin photographed in 2020 showed dark plumage with a faint greenish gloss.
Image: Canva