Something that's been suggested for a long time now, but rarely indicated by pictures of miniatures, was that the skin of Salamanders space marines turns very dark (almost jet black) due to one of the marines' implanted organs. I forget the name, but the one that changes the shade of their skin in response to changing light conditions.

A couple of miniatures in the past have shown central-African skin tones; in the 5th edition rulebook, however, is a picture of Salamanders containing two without helmets. Both have very dark (Chaos Black-Scorched Brown tone as opposed to Dark Flesh) skin; interestingly, the one with hair has very pale hair (while the other is bald), which is suggestive of it being a change after organ implantation (as, assuming the human phenotype in the 41st millennium is similar to that now, having very dark skin and very pale hair is almost unheard of). I don't have the book here now but can give you a page reference later, if it's of interest.

I don't know whether this change would have manifested itself in the beginning, or the mutation occurred somewhere in the millennia after the Heresy, but thought this was worth mentioning.

I think this is being extended to them having red eyes, too, according to a thread I read (on Warseer?) about a forthcoming Salamanders novel.

They like their extremes don't they? I think it's quite cool though I'm not sure about the red eyes. I saw that post over on the B&C, I think.

How odd, thats exactly opposite to Raven guard marines. They have chalky white skin and jet black hair, and coal black eyes.

salamanders do have jet black skin and red eyes due to the radiation on nocturne

You beat me to it Little Horus. :D

I think that the Salamanders who were recruited from Terra itself would have originally not had this distinctive colouration; however after prolonged exposure to the radiation of Nocturne, they probably would have gradually attained the black skin and red eyes.

There are a couple of painted examples to be found in the codex, but it seems to me that it is going to be quite a challenge to paint an expressive face which has jet black skin.

Bleh. Still unhappy about this. What was wrong with having one Legion who resembled Africans? Also, the coal black skin and red eyes is just a silly idea in my opinion. I'm sure it'll be easy for the Sallies to keep their reputation as one of the few Legions/Chapters to give a damn about civilians when those same civilians think they're demons or other chaos spawn. <_<

'Africans' are part of a vast and varied skin spread on Terra. Why would an entire planet be black? If you want 'African' marines, paint some - they fit in anywhere, especially with a lot of Astartes originating from Terra in the Crusades.

Having the entirely of Salamanders be 'African' because they live on a Volcano planet.. its quite frankly daft.

Hmm, so is Vulkan black skinned? He's not an Astartes, he wasn't born on Nocturne...

but didnt he grow up there?

One of my gaming buddies whos just done a whole painted slamanders company (120 models, diff organisation) was really mad when he read the SM book about them.

It annoyed him the refrence tohow their 'daemonic appearance' had helped them to win battles. B)

I don't think I know for sure. I'm tempted to say yes, as presumably it's his gene-seed which affects the appearance of the rest of the Legion. I suppose we have to wait and see how pre-Heresy Salamanders are described in future novels to work out the timing.

I think it would make sense for an entire planet to have dark skin. A high level of pigment may protect the citizens of Nocturne from the planet's radiation, or maybe the initial settlers were largely composed of Africans.

As for the Salamanders' appearance I don't agree with them having a demonic appearance however GW "justifies" it. This combined with their pyromania might draw an Inquisitorial investigation, though the SW and BA seem to have avoided that well...

How was Vulcan described in Fulgrim? I think that would be the best current source for clues.

Fulgrim page 454:

It goes on to describe his armour as well.

But it doesn't sound as if he has 'Demonic' eyes or features.

How likely would Terran Salamanders actually fall to this trait? I mean, surely they were far beyond veteran enough to be permanently occupied with the crusade and not spend much time on Nocturne to warrant the exposure and thus black skin?