Canadian scientists have captured the first-ever video of an extremely rare melanistic Canada lynx, stunning wildlife experts and sparking worldwide fascination.
Unlike the species’ usual gray or reddish-brown coats designed for snowy camouflage, this lynx’s fur is a deep, shadowy black due to melanism, a genetic condition causing excess pigmentation.
Cell phone footage shows the elusive cat both sitting still and moving gracefully through its northern habitat, its dark coat stark against the snow.
While breathtaking, scientists warn that such coloring could be a disadvantage, making the lynx more visible to predators and prey in snowy regions.
Survival may depend on its ability to adapt hunting tactics and use its surroundings to offset its lack of natural concealment.
The sighting has also reignited debate over whether climate change may influence the frequency of melanism in wildlife.
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