Melanism is a common colour polymorphism in carnivores, and may have adaptive relevance in certain ecological scenarios. This coat colour variation is present in Arabian Wolves Canis lupus arabs, a widely distributed species in the Arabian Peninsula, especially in western Highlands of Saudi Arabia. Data collection involved field surveys conducted between 2010 and 2017 including active searches for black wolf carcasses, records of live animals encountered during field surveys, and by using >100 camera traps. Niche models were generated for non-melanistic and melanistic wolves based on environmental predictors aiming to discover geographic patterns of distinct phenotypes distribution in this area. In this study, melanistic wolves were recorded at 12 locations from western highlands ranges. Niche model predicts suitability for melanistic and non-melanistic wolves mainly in western highlands and found that melanistic wolves were encountered in regions where moisture is high, predicting a close relationship between humidity and the presence of black animals.

中文翻译：

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黑化阿拉伯狼的地理分布模式，阿拉伯狼疮（Pocock），在沙特阿拉伯（哺乳动物：食肉目）

黑色素是食肉动物中常见的颜色多态性，在某些生态场景中可能具有适应性相关性。这种毛色变化存在于阿拉伯狼 Canis lupus arabs 中，这是一种广泛分布于阿拉伯半岛，尤其是沙特阿拉伯西部高地的物种。数据收集涉及 2010 年至 2017 年期间进行的实地调查，包括积极搜索黑狼尸体、实地调查期间遇到的活体动物记录，以及使用超过 100 个相机陷阱。基于环境预测因子为非黑化和黑化狼生成了利基模型，旨在发现该地区不同表型分布的地理模式。在这项研究中，在西部高地山脉的 12 个地点记录了黑化狼。