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