Comments on: New Reports of the Black Tigers of India http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/black-tigers/ for Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and More Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:58:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kittenz http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/black-tigers/comment-page-1/#comment-48594 kittenz Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:48:59 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6867#comment-48594 I think that truly melanistic tigers probably occur from time to time. In fact since melanism seems to have a decided evolutionary benefit in many cat species, it probably occurs (or has occurred) in every cat species at some point. What we are really seeing in smaller, more isolated populations such as this one is evolution in progress. (Of course, evolution is <em>always</em> in progress, but when anomalies such as abundism, melanism, leucism, or other color abnormalities begin to turn up, we humans tend to notice that). I think that truly melanistic tigers probably occur from time to time. In fact since melanism seems to have a decided evolutionary benefit in many cat species, it probably occurs (or has occurred) in every cat species at some point.

What we are really seeing in smaller, more isolated populations such as this one is evolution in progress. (Of course, evolution is always in progress, but when anomalies such as abundism, melanism, leucism, or other color abnormalities begin to turn up, we humans tend to notice that).

]]> By: Ceroill http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/black-tigers/comment-page-1/#comment-48569 Ceroill Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:37:43 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6867#comment-48569 Nice added info, Kittenz, thanks! Nice added info, Kittenz, thanks!

]]> By: MattBille http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/black-tigers/comment-page-1/#comment-48557 MattBille Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:25:04 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6867#comment-48557 Shuker records numerous reports in Mystery Cats of the World, some of them impressive but none later than the 1950s. He thought it likely that true melanistic tigers did occur in India. Shuker records numerous reports in Mystery Cats of the World, some of them impressive but none later than the 1950s. He thought it likely that true melanistic tigers did occur in India.

]]> By: kittenz http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/black-tigers/comment-page-1/#comment-48552 kittenz Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:19:12 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6867#comment-48552 It's interesting that the "black" tigers tend to be smaller than average - possibly their smaller size and the hyperabundant pigmentation are both results of their restricted gene pool. These tigers' coloration appears to be the result of abundism rather than true melanism. Abundism is an increase in the amount of pigmentation that causes patterns such as spots or stripes to be bigger or more numerous than is usual. It's also called pseudomelanism. True melanism causes the entire coat to be black or nearly black, with the pattern of spots or stripes discernible under the overall black. Abundism can be so extreme as to make the entire animal appear to be black or black "cobwebbed" with a lighter color, but it is different from true melanism. To the best of my knowledge, no truly melanistic tigers have ever been documented. It’s interesting that the “black” tigers tend to be smaller than average – possibly their smaller size and the hyperabundant pigmentation are both results of their restricted gene pool. These tigers’ coloration appears to be the result of abundism rather than true melanism. Abundism is an increase in the amount of pigmentation that causes patterns such as spots or stripes to be bigger or more numerous than is usual. It’s also called pseudomelanism. True melanism causes the entire coat to be black or nearly black, with the pattern of spots or stripes discernible under the overall black. Abundism can be so extreme as to make the entire animal appear to be black or black “cobwebbed” with a lighter color, but it is different from true melanism. To the best of my knowledge, no truly melanistic tigers have ever been documented.

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