The Opal: Wout van Gils. GENERAL The special feature of the opals is in fact the reverse melanization. In all known color varieties, the melanin is most visible at the top of the feathering. However, with opals this is the other way around. The number of melanin grains in the feathering is less concentrated at the top than at the bottom. Most opals are therefore easy to recognize. When we look at the underside of the tail we see that it is always darker than the top. The opal mutation prevents the formation of the brown phaeomelanin.
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