1. an increased amount of black or dark pigmentation in the skin, hair, feathers, or other tissues
Usage: biological term

Examples

• The black panther is actually a leopard with melanism.
• Melanism in moths became more common in polluted industrial areas.
• The researcher studied melanism in bird populations.
• Industrial melanism helped certain species camouflage in soot-covered environments.
• Melanism is the opposite of albinism in terms of pigmentation.
• The genetic mutation caused melanism in the squirrel population.