Black squirrel
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Black squirrels are a melanistic subgroup of squirrels with black coloration on their fur. The phenomenon occurs with several species of squirrels, although it is most frequent with the eastern gray squirrel and the fox squirrel. Black morphs of the eastern gray and fox squirrels are the result of a variant pigment gene. Several theories have surfaced as to why the black morph occurs, with some suggesting that the black morph is a selective advantage for squirrels inhabiting the northern ranges of the species, with the black fur providing a thermal advantage over its non-melanistic counterpart.
Melanistic eastern gray squirrel in Santa Clara, California.
A black squirrel in winter in Stirling, Ontario. Heat retention in cold weather has been theorized as a benefit of melanism.
Juvenile grey squirrels from two different litters.
Jet-black eastern gray squirrels in Toronto, Ontario. Urban populations of the species were found to have a higher frequency of black morphs.
Melanism
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Melanism is the congenital excess of melanin in an organism resulting in dark pigment.
Melanistic black eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Melanistic guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are rare, and are used in rituals by Andean curanderos.
A melanistic European adder (Vipera berus) compared to a normal-colored adder
Melanistic and normally coloured jaguars