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. 2019 May 8;7:e6894. doi: 10.7717/peerj.6894

Figure 6. Insular Polynesian rats with different expressions of melanism (increased pigmentation).

Figure 6

(A) Normal-coloured specimen from Ponape, Caroline Islands (USNM 301998; female), ventral side. (B) Melanistic coloured specimen from the same population (USNM 301999, female), captured at the same day, ventral side. (C) Same specimen as (A), dorsal view. (D) Same specimen as (B), dorsal view. (E) Irregular black patches in a specimen from Batam Island, Sumatra (USNM 143251, female), ventral view. (F) Same specimen, dorsal view. Patches are present on both upper- and underside. Note that Epimys concolor as written on the label is a junior synonym for Rattus exulans (Polynesian rat), following Wilson & Reeder (2005). (G) Irregular dark buff patches in a specimen from Malenge, Togian Islands, Sulawesi (USNM 153296, male), ventral side. (H) Normal-coloured specimen (USNM 153295, female) from the same locality. Photo credits: Bartholomeus van der Geer.