Turkish Journal of Zoology
Abstract
This study reports the first documented case of melanism in the Caucasian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) from Türkiye. While melanism has been documented in 12 other species within the Sciurus genus, it has not previously been recorded in S. anomalus. The observation was made during a herpetological field survey in Erzincan Province, Türkiye, where a melanistic specimen was photographed in a mixed habitat comprising natural vegetation and cultivated land. In mammals, melanism is widely regarded as an adaptive trait, potentially conferring advantages such as improved thermoregulation in colder climates and enhanced crypsis in shaded forest environments. This novel observation not only broadens our understanding of colour variation within S. anomalus populations but also underscores the potential ecological and evolutionary significance of melanism in this species. Further studies are needed to evaluate the prevalence and adaptive value of melanism in this taxon.
DOI
10.55730/1300-0179.3230
Keywords
Adaptation, mammalogy, morphology, Sciuridae, squirrel
First Page
247
Last Page
251
Publisher
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
AKDAĞ, B, & MEGA, B (2025). The first documented case of melanism in Sciurus anomalus, recorded in Türkiye. Turkish Journal of Zoology 49 (4): 247-251. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0179.3230
