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Fig. 2 | BMC Evolutionary Biology

Fig. 2

From: Multiple origins of melanism in two species of North American tree squirrel (Sciurus)

Fig. 2

Photos of fox (Sciurus niger) and gray (Sciurus carolinensis) squirrels. Squirrels are described as jet-black melanic if their entire coat has solid jet-black hairs, as partial melanic if their coat has between 75 and 90% solid jet-black hairs, and as brown-black melanic if their coat is overall darkened, with banding on the hairs. a) Colour group 1 (orange agouti) fox squirrel homozygous for the MC1RΔ24 allele (jet-black melanic). b) Colour group 1 fox squirrel heterozygous for the MC1RΔ24 allele (brown-black melanic). c) Colour group 2 (gray/tan agouti) fox squirrel homozygous for the Gly121Cys mutation in ASIP (jet-black melanic). d) Colour group 2 fox squirrel heterozygous for the Gly121Cys mutation in ASIP (partial melanic). e) Colour group 1 (orange agouti) wildtype fox squirrel. Wildtype fox squirrels from colour group 1 lack white markings, have an overall orange-red agouti colouration and orange or yellow venters. f) Colour group 2 (gray/tan agouti) wildtype fox squirrel. Wildtype fox squirrels from colour group 2 have an overall silver-gray or tan agouti colouration with cream or buff venters and black on the dorsal surface of their heads and often have white markings on their noses, ears, feet, and tails. g) Gray squirrel, typical wildtype grizzled phenotype. h) Gray squirrel homozygous for the MC1RΔ24 allele (jet-black melanic). i) Gray squirrel heterozygous for the MC1RΔ24 allele (brown-black melanic)

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