zoomelaninhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoomelanin_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezoomelanin, n.
Revised 2017

zoomelaninnoun

Now rare.
  1. 1858–
    A dark-coloured pigment found in animals, esp. in the feathers of certain birds; cf. melanin n.
    1. 1858
      M. Bogdanow surmises that the zoomelanine, or black pigment, may be identical with melanine, or black colouring-matter found in the choroid membrane.
      National Magazine vol. 4 128/1
    2. 1900
      Such a specimen shows the complete absence of the pigment known as ‘zoomelanin’, and..the appearance is white.
      Victorian Naturalist vol. 16 160
    3. 1952
      Zoomelanin—the black pigment found in the feathers of many birds.
      Laurens (Iowa) Sun 25 September

Originally published as part of the entry for zoo-, comb. form

zoo-, comb. form was revised in June 2017.