ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Melanistic

Melanistic is a term used to describe animals that have more black pigment than normal. Just like how people come in different colors and there are some people with darker skin, some animals can be born with more black pigments in their fur, skin, or feathers than other animals of their species. Melanism is the opposite of albinism, which is when animals have little or no pigmentation at all. An example of a melanistic animal is a black panther or a black squirrel. It's a bit like having a different color of fur or skin than most of the other animals in their group, but with just more black pigment than usual.