![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.natureinfocus.com%2Ftags%2Flepidoptera%2Fimage%2Fgulf-fritillary-1%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.natureinfocus.com%2Fkoken1%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F002%2F052%2Fagraulis-vanillae-melanistic-butterfly%2Flarge.1576597502.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fmail.natureinfocus.com%2Ftags%2Flepidoptera%2Fimage%2Fgulf-fritillary-1%2F" title="Gulf Fritillary"%3EGulf Fritillary%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EAgraulis+vanillae%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3EThis+Gulf+Fritillary+is+melanistic+which+means+that+it+has+more+black+pigmentation+than+a+normal+individual.+It+is+the+oppositie+of+albinism+which+is+the+lack+of+this+pigmentation.+Melanism+may+be+caused+by+genetic+or+environmental+conditions.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae
This Gulf Fritillary is melanistic which means that it has more black pigmentation than a normal individual. It is the oppositie of albinism which is the lack of this pigmentation. Melanism may be caused by genetic or environmental conditions.