melanism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an unusually high amount of dark melanin pigment in an animal or person, making the skin, fur, feathers, or eyes darker than usual

   Melanism gave the moths a much darker appearance than the typical form.

From French melanisme, built from Greek melas, melanos ("black, dark") and -ism. The biological term names a condition or inherited tendency involving unusually abundant melanin, in contrast with albinism.

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