Melanistic serval spotted in the Serengeti Posted on 7 November 2019 Tags:Serengeti, serval, Tanzania A regular serval is high on the bucket list of many avid safari-goers but spotting them is tough. They’re shy, secretive cats that tend to live in tall grasses — the perfect combination for staying unnoticed. But now, an even rarer melanistic serval has made its home in the Namiri Plains area of the eastern Serengeti, Tanzania. Melanism (increased development of the dark-coloured pigment melanin in skin/hair) in servals primarily occurs in East Africa, particularly in the highland regions over 2000m, which is what makes this sighting particularly special. Image credit: George Turner @georgetheexplorer At around 1000m, the Namiri Plains, Tanzania, are considerably lower than the normal altitude where melanism is more prevalent. It’s likely this particular serval travelled from the nearby – and much higher – Ngorongoro Crater and established a new territory. Nobody knows for sure why melanism occurs in servals. Some think the increased altitude (and forested habitat that comes with it) reduces exposure to daylight, encouraging melanism. There’s no guarantee that ‘Manja’ (named after the guide at @asiliaafrica who first spotted him), should he find a mate, will produce melanistic kittens. As melanism is carried by a recessive gene, it could be years before any begin appearing in the area. The hope, for now, is that he continues to flourish in the grasslands and build on his territory. Also, what serval could resist those charming good looks? Image: George Turner, @georgetheexplorer Related Posts Jane Goodall ’s Roots & Shoots programme teaches youth to go green 24 June 2022 Roots & Shoots is a Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) global youth-led community action program that... read more What happened during the Black December of 1957? 13 June 2022 In December of 1957, a series of encounters with sharks along the Natal coast resulted... read more 5 dazzling caves for scuba diving in South Africa 9 June 2022 It’s time to go a little bit deeper than the surface. Grab your diving gear,... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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