melanism is truly nature's gift to black furries. 'oh this animal is always white, it has pale skin/hair/feathers/whatever' NOPE IT'S BLACK NOW
'oh the barn owl, with its light coloration' WRONG
ID: A barn owl with black and brown feathers. End ID
Have some more melanistic animals for inspiration, courtesy of https://www.tumblr.com/fyanimaldiversity/tagged/melanistic:
Squirrels:
ID: 3 photos of Eastern grey squirrels with different patterns of melanism - one with a dark brown body and black legs/tail/face/back, one that is solid black with white paws and face, and one that is solid black with a reddish brown tail. end ID
Deer and moose:
ID: 3 photos of deer relatives with melanism - 1) a white-tailed deer that is mottled brown and black with a black head (and is sticking its tongue out), 2) a solid black sika deer with black antlers, and 3) a moose that is mostly black with some brown fur mixed in on the legs and muzzle, with beige antlers. end ID
Felids (small and big wildcats):
ID: 6 photos of felids with melanism - 1) a solid black serval, 2) a solid black bobcat, 3) a jaguar with black legs/tail/muzzle/forehead and dark brown torso with large black spots, 4) a mostly black jaguarundi flecked with brown hairs, 5) a smoky black caracal kitten with gray markings, and 6) a mottled blackish-brown jungle cat. end ID
Canids (wolves, foxes, etc.):
ID: 3 photos of canids with melanism - 1) a gray fox with ticked gray-and-black fur and solid black face, ears, legs, and tailtip; 2) an Indian jackal with smoky black fur; and 3) a coyote with ticked black-and-brown fur. end ID
Tons of other mammals:
ID: 6 photos of melanistic mammals - 1) a black Virginia opossum with pink nose, 2) two brownish black nutrias/coypus (aquatic rodents), 3) a black-with-brown-flecks slender mongoose, 4) a southern tamandua (type of anteater) with black fur and brown skin, 5) a glossy black Atlantic gray seal, and 6) a solid black African civet. end ID
Lots of birds:
ID: 6 photos of melanistic birds - 1) an iridescent dark gray tree swallow; 2) a dark-brown-with-black-spots common kestrel with black wing tips and tail tip; 3) a dark brownish gray kookaburra with an aqua colored spot on its wings; 4) an iridescent black common pheasant with a brown-and-black-striped tail, red wattles, and a white beak; 5) a black flamingo with a black-tipped yellow beak; and 6) an iridescent black domestic rooster with black beak and wattles and dark brown legs. end ID
Even reptiles, amphibians, and fish:
ID: 4 photos of various melanistic animals - 1) a dark olive green beauty rat snake with black stripes lengthwise down its back; 2) a solid black green frog; 3) a matte black alligator gar (type of fish); and 4) a black manta ray with a small white spot on one cephalic fin and another small white spot on its underside. end ID
All images were from posts by @fyanimaldiversity except for those with sources linked below:
Flamingo
Rooster
Slender mongoose
