Black is beautiful and certainly melanistic animals are such an exquisitely good looking creatures!

Melanism is the opposite of albinism. It is the development of the dark-colored pigment melanin in the skin. In the past, it was medically termed as black jaundice. Just like Albinism results in awesomely white animals, the Melanism effect on animals is tremendously beautiful. Certainly, it’s hard to believe that these black beauties exist. Some may even think that the photos of melanistic animals are edited. However, the black pigments are not imaginary, they’re real!

Black panthers used to be the most famous melanistic animal, however, there were lots of animals which proves that black is indeed stunning. Below is a captivating gallery of twenty-five melanistic animals.

Black Panther

Black panthers has more advantages in hiding and hunting compared to non-all black panthers. as they become more camouflaged and has more potential to survive and reproduce in their environment. Their all black color makes them less conspicuous to predators. Likewise, their color gives them the biggest advantage to hunt at night.

Black panthers has various names such as black jaguars, black leopards, or black cougars.

Melanistic Guinea Pigs

Surely, melanistic guinea pigs are rare in the wild. However, due to the high demand among pet owners for color black, breeders tried to force the production of all black color. The result is indeed stunning with these black beauties!

Melanistic Deer

In as much as we wanted to see lots of black deers in the wild, they are the rarest thing on earth. Just like white tailed deer, all black deers are extremely uncommon.

Melanistic Penguins

Absolutely, all black penguins are a pleasure to see. However, there are only 1 in 30,000 that can make it to a color of extreme black.

Melanistic Servals

Malanism is common among servals most especially to servals living at higher altitudes.

Melanistic Owls

As nocturnal birds, melanistic owls has the biggest advantage to catch its prey.

Melanistic Wolf

Melanistic Zebra

Melanistc Red Fox

Melanistc Easter Blue Tongue Lizards

Melanistic Seal

Melanistic Squirrel

Melanistic Chicken

Melanistic Springbok

Melanistic Turtle

Melanistic Geoffroy’s Cat

Geoffroy’s Cat are wild cats found in South America

Melanistic Coyote

Melanistic Camel

Melanistic Bobcat

Melanistic Groundhog

Melanistic Jungle Cat

Melanistic Raccoon

Melanistic Cobra

Melanistic Leopard

The Barbary lion was considered one of the largest lion subspecies. Unfortunately, it is now extinct. This lion was a native to North America and is believed to diminish since the mid-19^th century due to hunting. Male Barbary lions had dark, longhaired manes that extend to the shoulder to up to the belly. They measure around 2.35 to 2.8 meters while females are around 2.5 meters from head to tail. They could be as heavy as 270 to 300 kilograms. Barbary lions were used by the Romans to fight with gladiators. They were also used as gifts to Moroccan royal families. In the 19^th and 20^th centuries, they were kept in circus menageries and hotels then later at zoos. The Atlas Lion Project was launched to identify Barbary lion descendants in existence, aiming to start a program that would reintroduce the sub-species. In general, the Felidae or cat family is good predators. Big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars continue to impress and frighten people. However, their family was diminished because some of their relatives are now extinct. Here is a list of some of the mightiest and biggest cats that came into existence.

Smilodon

The famous saber-toothed cat Smilodon was believed to have been extinct since 10,000 BC. It lived in North and South America during the Pleistocene age. They had a robust feature: long, fragile upper canines, well-developed forelimbs, and gaped jaw. They hunted big herbivores such as bison and camel. Smilodon can be as heavy as 500 kilograms when fully grown.

Giant Cheetah

The Giant Cheetah can catch larger prey than its modern counterpart can. It weighed around 120 to 125 kilograms. It ran fast, has longer legs and bigger lungs and heart. It lived in Asia, France and Germany during the Pleistocene and Pliocene ages and got extinct in the last Ice Age.

Xenosmilus

The Xenosmilus had thicker, shorter teeth with serrated edges that cut flesh, similar to the teeth of shark and carnivorous dinosaur. It was very big and robust; about 180 to 230 kilograms. It had stronger and shorter legs. It is said to live in Florida during the Pleistocene period.

Homotherium

Also called Scimitar cat, the Homotherium was among the most successful cats. It was found in America, Asia, Europe and Africa. It could easily adapt on various habitats and was able to survive for 5 million years until it became extinct 10,000 years ago. It had short hind legs but longer forelegs, but not very big.

Machairoduskabir

The Machairoduskabir was also a saber tooth tiger. It was gigantic, with tiger-like built and long tail. It was among the biggest cats, almost as big as a horse and weighing about 490 to 500 kilograms. It ate large herbivores like elephants and rhinos.

American Lion

The American Lion is often referred as the biggest cat of all times. It lived from Alaska to Peru during the Pleistocene age and became extinct 11,000 years ago. Experts believe that this lion was a giant relative of modern day lions but others disagree. It weighed up to 500 kilograms and was able to take such large prey.

Caspian Tiger

The Caspian tiger was also known as Persian tiger. It lived in Iran, Turkey and China. It weighed a maximum of 240 kilograms and was not as big as Siberian tigers. They became extinct in the late 19^th century, but could be brought back through so called “de-extinction”.

Giant Jaguar

The jaguar known today is somewhat a small lion or tiger, but the ones discovered before weighed around 150 kilograms, similar to African lioness in size. They had long limbs and tails but were stronger than full-grown tiger and lion.

European Jaguar

The Panthera or European Jaguar did not come from the same modern jaguar species. It is uncertain how it looked like, but scientists suggest that it is similar to a tiger. It was huge, weighing up to 210 kilograms and was said to live in France, Germany, Spain, England and the Netherlands.

Cave Lion

The Cave Lion was a giant lion subspecies, weighing about 300 kilograms. It was powerful and dangerous that is why it was feared by other animals. It has no mane, only a bare ruff around its neck.

Pleistocene Tiger

The tigers we see today were said to be later versions of the Pleistocene tiger. These tigers evolved because they had to prey on diverse group of large herbivores in Asia. They are the largest modern day cats, which could reach up to 300 kilograms.

Megantereon

The Megantereon was known to live in parts of Africa, Europe, North America and Asia. It was a dirk-toothed cat with enlarged upper canines. It was robust but not speedy to run for prey. It looked like a big modern jaguar, reaching up to 150 kilograms.

Most of these cats were discovered through their fossil remains. Contrary to popular belief that they became extinct because of lack of prey, researchers noted that their extinction could be associated with changing climate and human activity. Humans should be more cautious about the possibility of the modern cats being extinct in the future.

A Maltese Shih Tzu Mix is what you get when you crossbreed a Shih Tzu and a Maltese. These are designer dogs which are also commonly named as Malte Tzu, Shihtese, or Malshi.

These little guys are certainly gorgeous dogs that are feisty and forever loyal companions. However, if you want to have a purebred Maltese Shih Tzu, it would be great if you check on who their parents are before getting one as not all breeders are pure bred. Keep in mind that when a pure bred Maltese dog is mated with a purebred Shih Tzu, then there’s a huge chance of having a healthy and energetic Maltese Shih Tzu.

The following are fascinating facts you may not know about these dogs:

 

A Maltese Shih Tzu mix was developed in the 1990s. They are one of the most popular dog breeds in Australia. Recently, it has gained popular attention in North America and other countries.

 

You can register a Maltese Shih Tzu Mix to American Canine Hybrid Club but not to American Kennel Club.

 

Maltese Shih Tzu Mix breeds are non-shedding dogs making them the best choice for those who have allergies.

 

They need regular grooming and brushing to avoid tangling.

 

They are energetic, affectionate and loyal to their owners. These are personality characteristics that they inherited from their parents. A Maltese is known to be loyal, gentle and a great guard dog as they can signal their owners when they are suspicious of their environment.

 

They are charming and best suited for a variety of lifestyles. They are intelligent dogs making them so easy to train.

 

They are friendly and outgoing. They can make friends with anyone, be it humans or with their fellow dogs.

 

They are also wonderful therapy dogs, thanks to their loving and social characteristics.

 

A Maltese Shih Tzu Mix has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years.