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The dark skin is caused by a mutation in one of their organs, generally such mutations during the crusades were kept in check by their primarchs. I know that the inhabitants of Nocturne are thought to have all been dark skinned but what about those of the original legion from Terra? What of Vulkan himself? Did they always have red eyes or is that a mutation too?
Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I don't believe it has been addressed. Perhaps the HH novel that will deal more with the Salamanders will address this. Vulkan was darker skinned but I can't recall any description of his eyes. I do know that next to Ferrus Manus he was supposedly the most physically strong.

Which is befitting a character that is something of a blacksmith.

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Melanochrome

Holds all of the info you need. Know that Nocturne is a highly irradiated death world with a weak ozone layer.

You're right though, only the later Salamanders would have had the black skin. The ones that the Emperor brought from Terra would have been fine. I wonder if their skin turned black over time, given enough exposure to Nocturne's radiation? And if so, does that mean that any Marine who spends enough time on Nocturne would turn black?

According to GW being black is due to mutant organs. Oh GW.

Harriticus wrote:According to GW being black is due to mutant organs. Oh GW.

No according to GW being jet black and having red eyes is caused by a mutation.

Also for those who spout out 'you're just racist' at the drop of a hat being black is a mutation, same as being blond, being green eyes, how easily you tan, if you can role your tounge, if you have thick body hair, if you are white skinned, ect. Every born difference in human beings is due to mutation, so you can get off of the high horse.

As to the question about non-Salamanders on Nocture, if they exposed an area of their skin during the day on Nocture they would have a body wide pigment change as this is one of the adaptations marines have to servive hostile enviroments. They would however revert back to their normal skin colour if they had no more expose for a while.