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"
