What is my rabbit’s fur color called?

[FluffyBunny]

My rabbit, Ms. Rabbit, has a very strange coat. She has tipped fur – the base of the fur is white, the middle is gray, the top is chocolate brown, and some of the tips are gold. She doesn’t have any of the normal white patches on the face that most agoutis have. Her belly is a mix of tan and dark gray. On the sides of her back, the fur goes straight from gray in the middle to gold on the top. The fur on her nose, ears and paws doesn’t have any gold tips. Her fur color seems to gradually be getting darker and darker.

Does anyone know what her color is called? I’ve always thought that she was a chocolate agouti, but I’m not quite sure anymore. If it makes any difference, she’s a Mini Rex and dwarf mix.

These photos were taken in November and October, respectively:

In the last photo (taken on Christmas), you can see that her fur has darkened considerably:

[Sarita]

She’s just beautiful. I would call her color agouti – most agouti colored rabbits don’t have white patches on their foreheads (baby cottontails do until they grow up but not domestics).

Basically with agouti coloring the fur comes in bands of coloring that can vary from rabbit to rabbit. It had that “ticked” look. I think the thing with this type of coloring is that it is never the same from rabbit to rabbit – it’s very unique really. One of my most favorite fur colorations.

[Elrohwen]

I would guess she’s a type of steel. The steel gene modifies the base coat color so that it doesn’t extend all the way out to the tips of the fur. Steel tipping is found in regular “self” colors (like black, chocolate, blue – any color that is one solid color). This article kind of explains it: http://www.thenaturetrail.com/EGene.htm

I don’t think she’s an agouti because she doesn’t have the white belly, ear lacing, etc that an agouti would have.

Here’s an image of a gold tipped black (couldn’t find any chocolates) and you can see how his main body color is sold, but then he has ticking at the ends of the fur: http://www.vpshoppinlops.com/uploads/2/0/0/6/2006489/5629055_orig.jpg?123

[Elrohwen]

This site has some good pictures of steels if you scroll to the bottom. The gold tipped black one actually looks like Ms Rabbit.

 

http://www.rebeccasrabbitry.com/minilopcolorguide.html

[Sarita]

I don’t think the white belly or tail have to do with the agouti coloring. Those rabbits just happen to have white bellies and tails. Agouti is just a pattern not a breed.

[Sarita]

I found this which is interesting about rabbit color genes:

http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/colorgenes.php

Course, I need to go back to science class to really understand it.

[Elrohwen]

Agouti is a pattern, and that pattern has the white belly and ear lacing as part of the pattern – not just the tipped fur. The agouti gene controls the color in a very specific way, so these rabbits can’t just have white bellies and tails – they must as part of the pattern. Other colors won’t have white bellies if it’s not part of the genetic color pattern.

The steel gene gives tipped fur without the rest of the coloring pattern found in agoutis which is why I think that’s what Ms Rabbit is.

[Elrohwen]

Posted By Sarita on 01/20/2011 07:10 AM

I found this which is interesting about rabbit color genes:

http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/colorgenes.php

Course, I need to go back to science class to really understand it.

 

If you read the first section about the “A” gene in this link (the agouti controlling gene) it explains the white bellies and eye circles as part of the color pattern.

[Sarita]

Ah true – see, told you I need to go back to school to understand this LOL.

[Elrohwen]

Haha. Genetics is one of those things that’s really confusing if you’re not used to looking at it! Especially when the articles jump right in with a lot of letters. I definitely read a bunch of them multiple times until I figured out what was going on.

[cactuspancake]

Franz is agouti… He has the wild rabbit color g. Tan circles around the eyes and a white belly. I think agoutis need grey? I don’t know what to call him but I don’t think he’s agouti.

[Elrohwen]

cactuspancake, can you explain your post a bit more? I’m not sure what you mean by agoutis needing grey.

[cactuspancake]

I’m not 100% sure but I think agouti is the pattern/colors of a wild rabbit which include brown, black, grey, and white. Again, I’m not sure on this Each hair kind of changes colors as well…. I think that’s what agouti means. Like each hair has bands of the brown and grey… so like rabbits with those colors don’t necessarily mean agouti like if they are patched, have solid hair, or generally unsymmetrical coloring. Also Franz totally just typed for me and erased half this post rofl -.-

[cactuspancake]

Yeah the dictionary said it needs the banding like I thought : “a grizzled color of fur resulting from the barring of each hair in several alternate dark and light bands “

Also, I pulled this simple gene explanation from a rabbit breeder’s info…

____________________________________________

“The Agouti Pattern A

The Agouti gene set has three possible genes. They are list in order of dominance: A, at and a. The A gene is the typical wild rabbit color pattern. Rabbits with this gene would have white bellies, white eye circles and white on the underside of the tail. The individual hairs on a rabbit possessing the A gene will have color bands. If you blow on the back of the rabbit you will see circular bands of color, this is a result of this gene.

The at gene is known as the tan pattern. In order for this gene to display in the rabbit the second gene must either be an at or and a.If the second gene is an A (Agouti) the rabbit will carry the at but will show the A (agouti) since the A (Agouti) is dominant. The tan (at) gene has the same overall pattern as an Agouti. The belly will be white, the rabbit will have white eye circle, and the under side of the tail will be white. However, the individual hairs will not have color bands, but will be all one color.

The a gene is known as the self gene. Since this is the most recessive gene, the rabbit must have two a’s in the gene set to show this pattern (aa). With this gene the rabbit will be one color throughout their body, and the individual hairs will be one color.

____________________________________________

The Black/Brown – Gene B

There are only two genes in this gene set, B (black) which is dominant and b (chocolate) which is recessive. Colors in the B (black) set include black, blue, tort, sable point, and chinchilla. Colors in the b (chocolate) set include chocolate, lilac and lynx.

Because there are two genes in this set, there are three possible gene combinations: BB, Bb and bb. BB & Bb will both show the black. The only way for the chocolate to appear in the bunny is if this gene set is bb.

If you are breeding to obtain one of the chocolate colors, it is best to use a chocolate color rabbit. Its not impossible to get a chocolate from a black rabbit since both parents could carry the chocolate gene, but it’s a whole lot easier when starting with a chocolate.”
 

[Elrohwen]

Ahh, yes, the banded hair! Definitely a main quality of the agouti colors. I was confused by the grey reference, but now I see what you mean 🙂

[Monkeybun]

I think it is called…. “Pretty”

[GrumpyBun]

Posted By Monkeybun on 01/20/2011 07:37 PM
I think it is called…. “Pretty”

Damn it MB, you stole the thoughts from my head!

[LoveChaCha]

I’m also confused with some rabbits as well.
There are orange bunnies, with white chins, bellies.. they remind me of the otter patterns! However, they are just called “Orange.” not “Orange otter.”

I’m confused o_O!!!

Ms bunny is VERY VERY Pretty.

[jerseygirl]

I know! ^ I’ve only just discovered that Orange is AGOUTI. Weird huh? And agouti having that pattern (white belly, round the eyes, nose etc) I suppose those orange buns fit part of the description. I’ve always referred to that colouring as Palomino.

@Cactus, which site is those descriptions from. I like them. 
 

The at gene is known as the tan pattern. In order for this gene to display in the rabbit the second gene must either be an at or and a.If the second gene is an A (Agouti) the rabbit will carry the at but will show the A (agouti) since the A (Agouti) is dominant. The tan (at) gene has the same overall pattern as an Agouti. The belly will be white, the rabbit will have white eye circle, and the under side of the tail will be white. However, the individual hairs will not have color bands, but will be all one color.

So Otter and Marten are classed as Tan pattern?

I’m trying to work this out…so the genetic coding for rabbits that are orange/white bellies etc do not have the at or a gene in the second position so aren’t classed as tan patterned?

  On The Nature Trail chart there is a listing for Orange (Tort Otter)  Also “Orange” (Agouti). Both in the Full Colour column. So the Orange (Agouti A- B- C- D- ee) would be a rabbit with orange fur and the white belly/around the eyes,nose etc?   I have a feeling I’m making things more confusing for myself.

I’m glad you asked about Ms Rabbit Fluffybunny! I’ve been curious since you first posted pics of her. Agreed, she is very pretty!!! I was reminded of her also when I saw the gold tip steel picture Elrohwen referred to, though she is more brown. Gold tipped Chocolate? Sounds pretty cool.

[LoveChaCha]

Oh wow jersey lol!!!

The thing with otters is, that they have white chins, but their bellys tend to have a light brown outlining and a white center. I hope I did not confuse you with the description.

Orange is agouti? :3 oh man, I am more confused I think I’ll call the orange with a white patterns an orange otter LOL!!

Rabbit genetics make my head hurt!

[jerseygirl]

I hope I did not confuse you with the description.

haha, don’t worry, it doesn’t take much. I’m going crossed eyed with all this.

[LoveChaCha]

me too o_o all i know is, rabbits have very pretty fur.

[jerseygirl]

We need our own BB classing system. :p

So….I have now discovered with Steel colours there can also be sable. Ms Rabbit might be a Sable Steel? gold or silver tipped? I’m trying to find a picture to compare.

[Monkeybun]

the Otter colorings are part of the tan-pattern group, which consists of otters (blue, black, chocolate and lilac), tans, which are similar to otters but the belly colors are usually more red, and martens (silver, sable and smoke pearl)

Agoutis are actually a huge coloring group, the main thing that makes an agouti is the banding of the fur, and the white belly. An agouti can be anything from the wild bunny coloring to chinchilla coloring to cinnamon, to cream and even REW, odd as that sounds. It’s amazing the different colorations an agouti-marked bunny can be

[Elrohwen]

Jersey, I think you’re on the right track with gold tipped sable or something. I still don’t understand all of the possible combinations there and what they’d look like, but I think Ms Rabbit is definitely in that family.

And yes, orange is agouti 😀 There’s a gene in orange that turns off the black in the coat, so the fur doesn’t have black tips like normal agoutis because of this interaction between genes. If you had an orange and bred it to a non-agouti, you’d get some agouti babies because the A gene for agoutis is dominant.

There is also the orange Jersey pointed out that is actually a normal tort color mixed with the otter gene. I imagine this is the agouti type of orange is in Palomino rabbits (because their other main color is an agouti color, not a shaded color like tort) while hollands come in the orange tort because tort and other shaded colors are very common for the breed. That’s just a guess though.

[FluffyBunny]

Wow! I forget about this topic for 2 days, and it becomes an interesting discussion of bunny genetics.

I’m a little confused about the banded fur – do all agoutis have that or is it just for some rabbits?

Thanks for all the links and info. Interesting to read. For now, I think I’ll just keep calling Ms. Rabbit a “chocolate/gold-tipped cutie”. (That reminds me of the day I adopted her. When I first held her and looked at her coat, the first thing I thought was, “What the heck is this rabbit’s color called? Should I call her ‘dark brown’ or ‘agouti’?!”)

Don’t worry about getting confused. I always get confused with agouti rabbits. There’s “regular” agouti, chestnut agouti, chocolate agouti, darker chocolate agouti, red agouti, rabbits who look like they’re agouti but aren’t… And there’s just as many varieties of chinchilla-colored rabbits.

[Monkeybun]

Chinchilla IS agouti. If a rabbits fur has banding, and they have a white tummy, its agouti.

[Elrohwen]

I agree with MB, and if the fur has banding and there’s no white tummy, it’s a steel. So Ms Rabbit is some form of steel since she doesn’t have the other aspects of agouti coloring (like the white belly). I think it’s only “steel” if it’s one specific color of the steel family, otherwise it’s “gold tipped ____” or “brown tipped ____” or whatever.

And there *are* agouti’s without the banding, or at least without the black tips, because they have a gene that covers up all black in their fur, meaning that what would be black tips are now the same as the rest of the fur. But I think these colors are fairly rare and not what we see in the average rabbit off the street.

[Monkeybun]

Indeed. a REW could be an agouti, but the rew gene is masking it. bunny genetics are weird

[Elrohwen]

I guess REW and BEW are both examples of genes that cover up other genes – they can definitely hide a lot of other colors. Orange (and related colors like fawn) are all technically agoutis, but there’s a gene that covers up just the black tips on the fur so it doesn’t look agouti at all (except for the white bellies)

[jerseygirl]

And yes, orange is agouti 😀 There’s a gene in orange that turns off the black in the coat, so the fur doesn’t have black tips like normal agoutis because of this interaction between genes. If you had an orange and bred it to a non-agouti, you’d get some agouti babies because the A gene for agoutis is dominant.~Elrohwen

I think that is how Rumball got his colouring. His old owner said his Dad was “ginger-brown” and Mom was “silver”. I also was told which breeder he came from and rang her. She mentioned the Doe “sometimes threw those ones” (her words) meaning agoutis.

@ Fluffybunny, I read to think of agouti as a pattern rather then a colour. Banded fur(3 or more colours), white belly, light colour around the eyes and nose. I suppose those ones we could class just visually. And apparently, there’s colourations we may not claim as non-agouti just from a visual inspection (such as orange, Bew’s and REW’s). Crikey! lol
At the end of the day for most of us, it’s hard to say 100% what Breed and Colour our bunbuns truly are. Unless we go with Colour: Pretty, Breed: Cute = Pretty Cute.

[jerseygirl]

Here’s another doosey!

When it comes to coat colour, believe it or not, there are only two Fundamental Pigments: Black & Yellow(red). The expressed colour is a function of how much black or yellow pigment exists in the hair, which can change not only from hair to hair, but also along the length of a single hair. source: minkhollow.ca

Yellow(red) ? Wha….? To me, this isn’t just “you say potato and I say potahto” it more like you say potato and I say carrot!

[cactuspancake]

Posted By jerseygirl on 01/22/2011 05:07 PM
Here’s another doosey!

When it comes to coat colour, believe it or not, there are only two Fundamental Pigments: Black & Yellow(red). The expressed colour is a function of how much black or yellow pigment exists in the hair, which can change not only from hair to hair, but also along the length of a single hair. source: minkhollow.ca

Yellow(red) ? Wha….? To me, this isn’t just “you say potato and I say potahto” it more like you say potato and I say carrot!

… That person is confused I would disregard rofl

[cactuspancake]

I totally forgot to post this earlier! This page is awesome and has a million pics of english angora fur colors. I totally loved looking at all the silly bunnies; especially since they’re all fuzzy like my Franz <3

http://www.bumblebeeacres.com/Engli…Colors.htm

[jerseygirl]

I can’t get over them!!!!!

[Elrohwen]

Wow, those bunnies look awesome!!

I also can’t get over how different colored the wool is from the base fur color. They all look pretty much the same color to me. haha

[Author]

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