What is Pseudomelanism?

Pseudomelanism, also called abundism, is another variant of pigmentation, identifiable by dark spots or enlarged stripes, which cover a large part of the body of the animal, making it appear melanistic. An offspring gets two copies of each gene from both parents — the recessive gene manifests itself only if the dominant one is absent.

Tira is the only known polka dot zebra, a condition caused by pseudomelanism. Tira, a plains zebra (Equus quagga) who is mostly black, with white spots, lives in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and was first discovered by a local guide named Tira. Antony Tira, a Maasai guide who first spotted the foal, named him Tira. Zebra stripes are as unique as fingerprints, but Tira’s odd coloration could be the first recorded observation in the Masai Mara.