Keywords
Cordillera occidental
melanism
tiger cat
Valle del Cauca
How to Cite
Abstract
Melanism is a phenotypic variation characterized by an excess of dark pigmentation in the skin and fur of animals, resulting from a protein mutation. This coloration pattern has been observed in many species, including wild felids. In this study, we present new records of melanism in Leopardus pardinoides obtained through camera traps in the Western Cordillera of the Colombian Andes. Additionally, we report the first documented case of melanism in this species in the scientific literature for the department of Valle del Cauca.
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