Similipal “Melanistic Tigers” are not “Pseudomelanistic”: Management of the Case of a Phenotypic Nomenclature Drift

Today (22 June 2026) morning I saw the article published in Zoo's Print and drawing the attention of all who love Similipal and its tigers,-- all who have thought of giving shape for upgrading gene-pool status of tiger in Similipal---, to increase the production of normal colour tigers. With thanks to all, I give a brief of the Abstract and link for reading more about the critical case of 'Managing a nomenclatural drift' for "melanistic tigers of Similipal".

First described on July 21, 1993, the "melanistic tigers of Similipal" is a historically and biologically accurate term representing one of 14 known tiger phenotypes. However, a 2021 multi-author publication introduced the incorrect prefix "pseudo-melanistic" ('pseudo' meaning false) without justification or reference to the historical accounts in literature and official use. This flawed nomenclature rapidly spread through media and administrative communications, causing widespread confusion. Following formal objections and public resentment, editors requested a correction from the authors in April 2026. Dropping the erroneous "pseudo" prefix and restoring the original term is essential to safeguard scientific continuity, administrative accuracy, and Odisha's three-decade-long ecological record. https://share.google/MQyGv0Wz9CV8nTdBd 

Key words: Similipal, melanistic tiger, gene-pool improvement, Biological Terminology Drift 

SCIENTIFIC OPINION: WHY “PSEUDO MELANISTIC TIGER” IS INCORRECT AND HARMFUL

 1. The term “pseudo‑melanistic” is biologically wrong

Melanism is a real phenotype, not a “false” one.
The prefix pseudo‑ implies:

• fake
• incomplete
• misleading
• not a true phenotype

My 1999 model given for Panthera tigris and all subsequent field evidence shows that:

• Melanistic tigers are genuine phenotypes
• They do not arise because of repeated mutations
• They arise from real genetic variation
• They fit into Types 12–14 of my 14‑colour model
• They are part of the natural segregation spectrum of Panthera tigris

Thus, “pseudo‑melanistic” is scientifically indefensible.

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2. The term originated in July 2021 and spread without scrutiny

• The term first appeared in Sagar et al. 2021 (PNAS).
• It was not used in any tiger literature before 2021.
• It was not used in my 1999 model, nor in any Indian field reports from 1988–2020.
• It spread rapidly through:
• media
• forest officers
• social media
• popular science outlets

This created terminological confusion for five years (2021–2026).

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3. The PNAS Editors themselves corrected the issue in April 2026

My communication with PNAS resulted in:

• A formal editorial clarification (2 April 2026)
• A request to the 2021 authors to submit corrections
• Acknowledgement that the term “pseudo‑melanistic” should not be used for Similipal tigers

This is a major scientific correction — and it validates our position from 1999.

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4. The wrongly used "pseudo" term contradicts my 14‑colour model (1999), which is the correct framework

My model already includes:

• Melanistic
• Black
• Brown‑phase
• Rufous
• Pallid
• White variants
• Ghost‑pattern
• Pattern‑dominant
• Pattern‑reduced

There is no place for “pseudo‑melanistic” because:

• It is not a phenotype
• It is not a genetic category
• It is not a colour expression
• It is not a pattern category

It is simply wrong terminology.

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5. The term caused real‑world damage

Because of the PNAS paper:

• Media began calling Similipal tigers “pseudo‑melanistic”
• Forest officers repeated the term in reports
• Photographers and tourists adopted it
• Even some scientific articles may have copied it without checking

This undermined:

• My 1999 model
• My 1988–1998 field documentation
• the correct terminology used for 30+ years

My intervention was necessary and scientifically justified.

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Final Opinion (for publication or official use)

The term “pseudo‑melanistic tiger” introduced by Sagar et al. (2021) is scientifically incorrect and should not be used. Melanistic tigers of Similipal are genuine phenotypes that fall within the 14‑colour model established in Singh (1999). The PNAS editorial clarification of April 2026 confirms that the prefix “pseudo” must be dropped in all scientific, official, and media communication.

 

MORE LOVE FROM SIMILIPAL WITH ANOTHER POSTER

I am really moved for the love that the young generation from and surrounding of Similipal have shown me. They have created another poster page for me. The contents are not flaw-less, but it shows that the young men need to be educated and refined with their existing base. They remember me and have given my photo from WhatsApp and have tried to depict the colour variations in tiger world-wide. Just now, I just thank them

Through Jashipur Times, Mayurbhanj people expressed their love for me and my work

My first visit to Similipal was in 1979 for a thorough survey of river systems to locate any remnant crocodile population or find locations where mugger crocodiles could be released in future. Then, on return from deputation to Government of India, from November 1987, I stayed within Ramatirtha Crocodile Research complex near Jashipur, with Puspa 35 my wife, Anshuman 5 - son and Abhalaxmi 2- daughter. The stay for next 6 years for Similipal work gave me many challenges and many opportunities. Very friendly people and officials. I started changing as a different kind of wildlife researcher. 

In 1994, my father 70+ expired while living with us at Ramatirtha. Puspa suffered from malaria in 1994 when I was absent for a little long, inside the jungle. She developed numerous health problems. She breathed her last on 28 June 2003 at Baripada. The CWLW - Sri Suresh Chandra Mohanty organised to shift me to wildlife headquarters for better education and upbringing of children. 

On 26 March 2026 evening, I accidentally saw the Tribute given to me by Jashipur Times. I am overwhelmed, and before it gets lost somewhere, I thought to interact with AI and get feedback. Then today, I am preserving it in my blog.

Thank you, Jashipur Times and the people of Mayurbhanj, for the love you have bestowed upon me.

 

 

Similipal Tigers are "Melanistic", not "Pseudo-melanistic"

Recently some media houses have wrongfully used the term "pseudo-melanistic" for "melanistic tigers" of Similipal. I may clarify that the correct term is: melanistic and not "pseudo" (meaning 'false') melanistic tiger. They belong to a natural population, and they have not arisen out of or arising out of 'repeated mutation'. 

22 years back 14 different natural tiger phenotype-colour- variations were described in the book "Born Black- The Melanistic Tiger in India" written from research by me (Dr.  L.  A.  K.  Singh) and published by WWF - India.. 

Accordingly,  within that scope of description,  a tiger has to be "black" or "melanistic", not 'pseudo' meaning false. In 2021, a "pseudo" prefix was wrongfully  used by the molecular researchers from Bengaluru. At an Odisha State Research Advisory Committee Meeting, the lead researcher agreed with me (Dr.  Singh) that the prefix "pseudo" was wrong, and will not be used anymore by them.

So, Similipal-Jashipur-Mayurbhanj melanistic tigers are not "pseudo" (meaning false) but real melanistic tigers.  Let's stop ascribing the prefix "pseudo" melanistic for the future usage.

Dr. Lala A. K. Singh

Author of 1999-book: Born Black- The Melanistic Tiger in India"

My Library in the field and life

My personal library

Date: 05 March 2009 (Thursday) / updated 05 Dec 2010 (Sunday)

My personal library is the result of my own studentship (BSc Hons. 1970-1972, MSc 1972-1974) and research career in wildlife/environment/ecology (1975 to present). So, over 36 years…

Its uniqueness and strength lie in its variety, range and archaic to modern nature of wildlife / biodiversity-related titles and publications.

From my Graduation days I have nurtured an ambition to have my own library, so that I do not feel deficient for any reference anywhere anytime, even while staying for six years on the banks of Mahanadi or three in Chambal or sixteen in Similipal, or at such hours as the middle of the night, searching a reference with a kerosene lantern light.

And, my collections have proven that worth during my studentship and research career that is in its 4^th decade from Graduation.

I have collected books from all over the country and during my studies overseas (six of the seven continents, spending ‘dollar’ in those very-difficult years).

To this collection, books of other faculties and modern scientific fields have been added when my daughter, instead of exactly taking to my field, chose to study/research in the fields in Biotechnology / Nanotechnology / Biochemistry / Immunology / Bioinformatics.

Similarly, my son added variety because of his background in Commerce, GNIIT, MCA (ICFAI) and MBA.

The resulting collection contains a very wide range of

(i) Books in Basic, Applied and Modern Sciences / Commerce / Computers, (About 800 titles)

(ii) Scientific Papers on Wildlife, Biodiversity, Environment, Ecology, Herpetology, etc. (About 3000 publications).

(iii) About 1500 reference cards with Author, Title, Journal, Abstract of contents.

(iv) National and International Scientific Journals, Magazines relating to Wildlife, Environment, Ecology, Herpetology, etc. More than 25 types in series, some series starting from 1976 till present, and

(v) Text books / teaching material / competition courses containing education material of eternal value (about 200 titles).

These are not catalogued. But I / we know what is where.

We have started facing the crunch for space and therefore, difficulty in accessibility at times of need. Situation got worse because of changing places from Puri (1972) to Utkal Univ to Tikarpada to Hyderabad to Chambal to Hyderabad to Jashipur-Similipal to Baripada-Similipal to Bhubaneswar (2003). We are yet to pack/unpack the last time to settle in our own house (now scheduled to Dec.2010). But who will use the collection?

And, I am ageing (or, already aged; nearing 58). Some say, life starts at 60! Well, let’s see.

I had thought that I can build a working team and thus in 2004 instituted an annual ‘Puspaswini Wildlife Prize’ (in the memory of my deceased wife for the best presentation / project work in wildlife at Utkal University). All dreams do not come true!

I still look forward to some means, some support and some compensation.

I estimate that two Research Fellows (One a Biologist and the other a student of Library Science, both having good computer knowledge) and working for three to four months can catalogue the collection. (Our collection of computers is equally interesting:-- from Cyrix-1 to Pentium Dual Core – 3 PCs in working order, on which students can work.)

We will shift to our house later this month. But I cannot accommodate or can put to better use all the collection, particularly the journals and papers.

Today (05 Dec 2010, Sunday) talked to Director, Nandankanan. He will be happy if he can receive the publications and journals and all such materials I can give for the library in Nandankanan Biological Park. It has the best wildlife collection in the state of Orissa, and there is a librarian to look after the collection. The number of users is slowly but steadily increasing.

As regards certain research data files from 1970s, I will give some of these to Nimain, a promising field worker in elephant and other wildlife.

IDD AND SIB possibilities with Tiger, Elephant and Crocodile, too!

When I look back to my previous post, it tells about the apprehensions I was developing about IDD (Intellectual Developmental Disability) and SIB (Self-injuring Behaviour). The concepts are in the context of tiger and human growing-interface. 

A recent research by scientists from CSIR / CCMB Hyderabad was on tiger gut microbes found in the faecal matter of natural tigers. It gives early warning about tiger's environmental stress, habitat disturbance, exposure to pollutants and dietary changes. It has encouraged me to revisit IDD and SIB and the modern technologies that have been confirming our observations and apprehensions from the past old methods and tools.  

I started my wildlife research fifty years back, in 1975, with traditional tools, methods and field orientations, including fundamental imprinting of ecological pyramids in my mind. 

Now the time is changing. Researchers are with modern tools and technologies, on the ground-fixed cameras, drones-sailing in air and in the satellite images from the sky, all churning out analysis with AI-fortuned computers.  

I now realise the advantage and happiness of having lived the life of a researcher (1975-2025) through two centuries, the twentieth and the twenty-first.  

I congratulate the modern scientists who have for three different times proved me and our old wildlife research methods right: 
(1) During 1995, based from pugmark tracking and analysis of the tiger population trend, we said about tigers reaching the carrying capacity in their available habitats, and the possibility of imminent threat of sharp population decline. From 2006, based on camera trap methods our results and apprehensions have got confirmed, and new methods of tiger management have been adopted by managers. 

(2) From 27 September 1988 onwards, when we got data about stripe-less white tiger, our observations got documented on possible tiger colour variation in Similipal. From 21 July 1993, it got real strength and direction because of observations on melanistic tiger. By 1999, we plotted on map twelve sightings for the melanistic tiger in Similipal. I could develop a model that showed at least fourteen different colour variations in any natural population of tiger. In 2020, the photograph of a golden tiger from Kaziranga fitted to my concept in the colour model. Wildlife data trickles slow, after all. In 2021, the results from molecular studies by Bangalore-based scientists came close to my 1993-1999 apprehension relating to biological and conservation implications of melanistic tiger in Similipal. People who were enjoying the uniqueness of Similipal in showing up melanistic tiger in Similipal forests, started to realise the biological and conservation implications. In September 2025, National Geographic magazine generated more thinking by giving space to melanistic tiger on its cover page. 

(3) The recent molecular studies on gut microbes from five different Tiger Reserves of India come close to my apprehensions (2025) about the pressure on tiger population and/or behaviour due to increasing human-interface. 

I have started to think, if IDD and SIB may also be affecting other large indicator wildlife species of my interest, the elephants and the crocodilians, too. I am getting faint sketches on my mind and thought, and these may become bold if human-interface keep growing with all these species.