For more rat genetics, see the
AFRMA Rat Genetics book,
specific articles listed with the various standards descriptions,
and the articles on the Info Pages: Breeding – Colors/Genetics –
Rat Genetics, part 1,
Rat Genetics, part 2,
Rat Genetics, part 3.
See also the Rat Biology article
Where do Rat Coat Colors Come From?
See the AFRMA Rat Color Standards book
and the Standards pages for photos.
See also Fancy Rat Genes, Alphabetical Name Listing sorted by the name of the rat color or
Fancy Rat Genes, Agouti-based Colors,
Fancy Rat Genes, Black-based Colors,
Fancy Rat Genes, Marked Rats, or
Fancy Rat Genes, Coats & Misc. for breakdowns.
Following are the rat genes sorted by genetic code with colors in each gene section that needs that gene to make that color.
Note: Rat genetics were not studied as much as the mice so a lot of the genetic codes have been given by fanciers or are not known
A Am B Br C Cs Cu1 Cu2 Cw D Dal Dmbo Fr Fy Fz G H Hr K M Me N Oe P Pe R Re Rg Rnu Sa Sh Shn Sl St Wv ?
A: Agouti | ||
---|---|---|
A (agouti) | Agouti | AA or Aa (i.e. A–) |
Agouti: pink-eyed | A– pp (Silver Fawn) | |
Silver Fawn | A– pp (P.E. Agouti; Argente in mice) | |
Amber | A– pp (P.E. Agouti) or A– mm pp (P.E. Cinnamon) (a.k.a. a light Silver Fawn) | |
Blue Agouti | A– gg* (Opal) | |
Opal | A– gg* (Blue Agouti) | |
Agouti: Blue: pink-eyed | A– gg pp* (Apricot Agouti) | |
Apricot Agouti | A– gg pp* (P.E. Blue Agouti) | |
Chocolate Agouti | A– bb (dark Cinnamon; see also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Chocolate Agouti) | |
Agouti: Chocolate: pink-eyed | A– bb pp (Silver Fawn/P.E. Chocolate Agouti) | |
Agouti: Platinum | A– bb gg* | |
Cinnamon | A– mm (mink agouti) | |
Cinnamon: red | A– bb mm | |
Cinnamon: dark | A– bb (Chocolate Agouti) | |
Cinnamon: ruby-eyed | A– mm Rr | |
Cinnamon: pink-eyed | A– mm pp (light Silver Fawn) | |
Cinnamon: silvered | A– mm (come out of Cinnamon Pearl litters that lose their silvering as adults) | |
Cinnamon Pearl | A– mm Pepe | |
Apricot | A– bb pp Rr? or A– mm pp Rr? | |
Fawn | A– rr or AA bb rr (ruby-eyed Agouti; Topaz U.K.) | |
Topaz (U.K.) | A– rr or AA bb rr (Fawn, U.S.) | |
Russian Blue Agouti | A– dd | |
Russian Cinnamon | A– dd mm | |
Russian Fawn | A– dd rr | |
Russian Platinum Agouti | A– bb dd gg* | |
Silver Blue Agouti | A– dd gg* or A– dd gg mm?* | |
Lilac Agouti | A– bb mm Rr | |
Chinchilla | A– Cscs Fyfy**? or A– cchcch? or ? (formerly called Silver Agouti; see Breeding the Chinchilla) | |
Argente Creme | A– Cscs Fyfy** pp? or A– cchcch pp? (chinchillated Silver Fawn) | |
Squirrel (U.K.) | A– Cscs Fyfy** gg*? or
A– gg cchcch? (chinchillated Blue Agouti) | |
Turpin (U.K.) | A– Cscs FyFy** Hro++H? or Cscs Fyfy** Hro++H? or A– cchcch HroHro++? (chinchillated Essex) | |
Lynx | A– Cscs Fyfy rr?, A– Cscs Fyfy mm rr?, A– Ccch?, A–mm rr?, A– rr?, A– rr cchcch or ? (came out of Chinchilla breedings) | |
Cinnamon Pearl Merle | A– mm Me– Pepe* | |
Agouti Marten | A– cmcm# | |
Agouti Burmese | A– cech+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Russian Blue Agouti Burmese | A– cech+ dd (Russian Blue Agouti Burmese; similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Agouti Siamese Sable | A– csc# (B.E. version shown as Agouti Burmese) | |
Agouti Point Siamese | A– chch | |
B. E. Agouti Point Siamese | A– chci+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Agouti Point Himalayan | A– chc | |
B.E. Agouti Point Himalayan | A– cici+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Albino | cc (albino; covers up the actual color/marking so can be either an agouti-based or black-based color; a.k.a. P.E. White) | |
White: pink-eyed | cc (albino; covers up the actual color/marking so can be either an agouti-based or black-based color) Note: extremely diluted P.E. Self colors or a P.E. Marked with all markings bred off can look like a P.E. White | |
White: black-eyed | hehe or any h (marked selected for no spots; in either agouti-based or black-based color) | |
a (non-agouti/self) | Black | aa |
Silver Black | aa B– (selected for silvering) | |
Beige | aa rr or aa bb rr (ruby-eyed Black; Buff U.K.) | |
Buff (U.K.) | aa rr or aa bb rr (Beige U.S.) | |
Champagne | aa B– pp (P.E. Black) | |
Champagne: pale | aa bb pp (P.E. Chocolate) | |
Champagne: dark–eyed | aa B– mm rr | |
Chocolate | aa bb or aa bb Rr or aa BB Rr | |
Silver Chocolate | aa bb (selected for silvering) | |
Cocoa | aa bb mm (Coffee in U.K.), aa bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr (Havana in U.K.) | |
Coffee U.K. | aa bb mm (See also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Coffee) | |
Havana: U.K. | aa Bb mm Rr | |
Lilac U.K. | aa bb gg mm Rr*; see also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Lilac | |
Russian Blue | aa dd | |
Russian Dove | aa dd mm, aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd | |
Russian Dove: pink-eyed | aa dd mm pp, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa dd gg mm pp*, aa bb dd pp | |
Russian Dove Pearl | aa dd mm Pepe, aa dd amam Pepe | |
Blue-Beige | aa dd rr | |
Russian Platinum | aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd, aa dd mm | |
Russian Silver | aa dd gg pp*, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa bb dd gg mm pp*, aa dd pp (P.E. Russian Blue originally called Blue-Champagne) | |
Silver Blue | aa dd gg* or aa dd gg mm?* | |
Blue | aa gg* (selected for dark shade) | |
Sky Blue | aa gg* (medium shade) | |
Powder Blue | aa gg* (selected for light shade) | |
Silver | aa gg pp* (P.E. Blue) | |
Platinum: black-eyed | aa bb gg* | |
Platinum: ruby-eyed | aa gg mm* | |
Platinum: pink-eyed | aa bb gg pp* | |
Dove | aa gg mm*, aa bb gg* | |
Lilac | aa mm or aa amam (selected for lighter color) See photos from 1978 of original U.S.A. Lilac male Hersheyand here, owned by Karen Hauser. He was found in a pet shop in Riverside, CA. | |
Silver Lilac | aa mm Pepe or aa amam Pepe (selected for colored hair shafts and lighter color) | |
Mink | aa mm (selected for darker color) | |
Silver Mink | aa mm Pepe (selected for colored hair shafts and darker color) | |
Pearl | aa mm Pepe (selected for most of the hair shaft to be white; is a dominant lethal) | |
Mink/Lilac Merle | aa mm Me– pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* | |
Silver Mink/Silver Lilac Merle | aa mm Me– Pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* (selected for colored hair shafts) | |
Pearl Merle | aa mm Me– Pepe* (selected for most of the hair shaft to be white) | |
Marten | aa cmcm# | |
Marten: Himi | aa cmch# (Marten with points) | |
Burmese | aa cech+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Sable Burmese | aa cece+ (similar to extreme dilute in mice) | |
Russian Blue Burmese | aa cech+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Blue Burmese | aa cech+ gg (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese Sable: Agouti | A– csc# (B.E. version shown as Agouti Burmese) | |
Siamese Sable: light/show version | aa csc# | |
Siamese Sable: medium | aa csch# | |
Siamese Sable: dark (shown as Sable) | aa cscs# | |
Siamese: Seal Point | aa chch | |
Siamese: Black-eyed Seal Point | aa chci+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: Blue Point | aa chch gg* | |
Siamese: B. E. Blue Point | aa chci+ gg* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: Chocolate Point | aa bb chch | |
Siamese: Russian Blue Point | aa chch dd | |
Siamese: B. E. Russian Blue Point | aa chci+ dd* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: Blue Point | aa chc gg* | |
Himalayan: B.E. Blue Point | aa cici+ gg* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: Russian Blue Point | aa chc dd | |
Himalayan: B.E. Russian Blue Point | aa cici+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: Seal Point | aa chc | |
Himalayan: Black-eyed Seal Point | aa cici+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Albino | cc (albino; covers up the actual color/marking so can be either an agouti-based or black-based color; a.k.a. P.E. White) | |
White: pink-eyed | cc (albino; covers up the actual color/marking so can be either an agouti-based or black-based color) Note: extremely diluted P.E. Self colors or a P.E. Marked with all markings bred off can look like a P.E. White | |
White: black-eyed | hehe or any h (marked selected for no spots; in either agouti-based or black-based color) | |
Am/mo: American mink/mock mink (code by fanciers) | ||
am (American mink) | Lilac | aa mm or aa amam (selected for lighter color) See photos from 1978 of original U.S.A. Lilac male Hersheyand here, owned by Karen Hauser. He was found in a pet shop in Riverside, CA. |
Russian Dove Pearl | aa dd mm Pepe, aa dd amam Pepe | |
Silver Lilac | aa mm Pepe or aa amam Pepe (selected for colored hair shafts and lighter color) | |
Mink/Lilac Merle | aa mm Me– pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* | |
Silver Mink/Silver Lilac Merle | aa mm Me– Pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* (selected for colored hair shafts) | |
mo (mock mink) | AussieMink | aa momo (see page 7 of the article) |
B: Brown | ||
b (brown) | Chocolate | aa bb or aa bb Rr or aa BB Rr |
Silver Chocolate | aa bb (selected for silvering) | |
Beige | aa rr or aa bb rr (ruby-eyed Black; Buff U.K.) | |
Buff (U.K.) | aa rr or aa bb rr (Beige U.S.) | |
Champagne: pale | aa bb pp (P.E. Chocolate) | |
Dove | aa gg mm*, aa bb gg* | |
Cocoa | aa bb mm (Coffee in U.K.), aa bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr (Havana in U.K.) | |
Coffee U.K. | aa bb mm (See also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Coffee) | |
Lilac U.K. | aa bb gg mm Rr*; see also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Lilac | |
Chocolate Point Siamese | aa bb chch | |
Russian Dove | aa dd mm, aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd | |
Russian Dove: pink-eyed | aa dd mm pp, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa dd gg mm pp*, aa bb dd pp | |
Russian Platinum | aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd, aa dd mm | |
Russian Silver | aa dd gg pp*, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa bb dd gg mm pp*, aa dd pp (P.E. Russian Blue originally called Blue-Champagne) | |
Platinum: black-eyed | aa bb gg* | |
Platinum: pink-eyed | aa bb gg pp* | |
Chocolate Agouti | A– bb (dark Cinnamon) | |
Platinum Agouti | A– bb gg* | |
Apricot | A– bb pp Rr? or A– mm pp Rr? | |
Fawn | A– rr or AA bb rr (ruby-eyed Agouti; Topaz U.K.) | |
Topaz (U.K.) | A– rr or AA bb rr (Fawn, U.S.) | |
Silver Fawn: P.E. Chocolate Agouti | A– bb pp | |
Cinnamon: red | A– bb mm | |
Cinnamon: dark | A– bb (Chocolate Agouti) | |
Lilac Agouti | A– bb mm Rr | |
Russian Platinum Agouti | A– bb dd gg* | |
Br: Bristle Coat (code by AFRMA) | ||
Br (bristle coat) | Bristle Coat | Br (code given by AFRMA) |
C: Color/Chromogen/albino Series | ||
cm | Marten | aa cmcm# |
Marten: Agouti | A– cmcm# | |
Marten: Himi | aa cmch# (Marten with points) | |
ce (extreme dilute, code by Nichole Royer) | Burmese | aa cech+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) |
Burmese: Sable | aa cece+ (similar to extreme dilute in mice) | |
Burmese: Russian Blue | aa cech+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Burmese: Blue | aa cech+ gg (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Burmese: Agouti | A– cech+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Burmese: Russian Blue Agouti | A– cech+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
cs | Siamese Sable: Agouti | A– csc# (B.E. version shown as Agouti Burmese) |
Siamese Sable: light/show version | aa csc# | |
Siamese Sable: medium | aa csch# | |
Siamese Sable: dark (shown as Sable) | aa cscs# | |
ch (Acromelanism/Himalayan) | Burmese | aa cech+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) |
Burmese: Russian Blue | aa cech+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Burmese: Blue | aa cech+ gg (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: Seal Point | aa chch | |
Siamese: Black-eyed Seal Point | aa chci+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: Chocolate Point | aa bb chch | |
Siamese: Russian Blue Point | aa chch dd | |
Siamese: B. E. Russian Blue Point | aa chci+ dd* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: Blue Point | aa chch gg* | |
Siamese: B. E. Blue Point | aa chci+ gg* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: Seal Point | aa chc | |
Himalayan: Russian Blue Point | aa chc dd | |
Himalayan: Blue Point | aa chc gg* | |
Burmese: Agouti | A– cech+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Burmese: Russian Blue Agouti | A– cech+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: Agouti Point | A– chch | |
Siamese: B. E. Agouti Point | A– chci+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: Agouti Point | A– chc | |
ci (intense dilute; code by Nichole Royer) | Siamese: Black-eyed Seal Point | aa chci+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) |
Siamese: B. E. Russian Blue Point | aa chci+ dd* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: B. E. Blue Point | aa chci+ gg* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: Black-eyed Seal Point | aa cici+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: B.E. Russian Blue Point | aa cici+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: B.E. Blue Point | aa cici+ gg* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Siamese: B. E. Agouti Point | A– chci+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Himalayan: B.E. Agouti Point | A– cici+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Ivory/B.E. Cream | cic+ (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
c (albino) | Albino | cc (albino; covers up the actual color/marking so can be either an agouti-based or black-based color; a.k.a. P.E. White) |
Cs: Chinchilla spotting (code by Ann Storey) | ||
Cs (chinchilla spotting) | Chinchilla | A– Cscs Fyfy**? or A– cchcch? or ? (formerly called Silver Agouti) |
Argente Creme | A– Cscs Fyfy** pp? or A– cchcch pp? (chinchillated Silver Fawn) | |
Lynx | A– Cscs Fyfy rr?, A– Cscs Fyfy mm rr?, or ? (came out of Chinchilla breedings) | |
Squirrel (U.K.) | A– Cscs Fyfy** gg*? or
A– gg cchcch? (chinchillated Blue Agouti) | |
Turpin (U.K.) | A– Cscs FyFy** Hro++H? or Cscs Fyfy** Hro++H? or A– cchcch HroHro++? (chinchillated Essex) | |
Cu1: Curly 1 | ||
Cu1 (curly1) | Curly 1 | Cu1 |
Cu2: Curly 2 | ||
Cu2 (curly2) | Curly 2 | Cu2 |
Cw: Cowlick | ||
cw (cowlick) | Cowlick | cw |
D: Dilute | ||
d (dilute) | Russian Blue | aa dd |
Blue-Beige | aa dd rr | |
Silver Blue | aa dd gg* or aa dd gg mm?* | |
Russian Dove | aa dd mm, aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd | |
Russian Dove: pink-eyed | aa dd mm pp, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa dd gg mm pp*, aa bb dd pp | |
Russian Dove Pearl | aa dd mm Pepe, aa dd amam Pepe | |
Russian Platinum | aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd, aa dd mm | |
Russian Silver | aa dd gg pp*, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa bb dd gg mm pp*, aa dd pp (P.E. Russian Blue originally called Blue-Champagne) | |
Russian Blue Burmese | aa cech+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Russian Blue Point Himalayan | aa chc dd | |
B.E. Russian Blue Point Himalayan | aa cici+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Russian Blue Point Siamese | aa chch dd | |
B. E. Russian Blue Point Siamese | aa chci+ dd* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Russian Blue Agouti | A– dd | |
Russian Cinnamon | A– dd mm | |
Russian Fawn | A– dd rr | |
Russian Platinum Agouti | A– bb dd gg* | |
Silver Blue Agouti | A– dd gg* or A– dd gg mm?* | |
Russian Blue Agouti Burmese | A– cech+ dd (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Dal: Dalmatian (code by Nichole Royer) | ||
Dal (Dalmatian; code by Nichole Royer) | Dalmatian | Daldal* |
Collared | ? (usually from Dalmatian breedings) or Heh? or Hehi? | |
Dmbo: Dumbo | ||
dmbo (dumbo) | Dumbo | dmbodmbo (ear gene) |
Fr: Frizzy | ||
frCR (Charles River hairless) | Hairless: CR (Charles River) | frCR |
frH | Fuzzy | fzfz or frH |
Fy: Fading yellow | ||
Fy (fading yellow) | Chinchilla | Cscs Fyfy**? or A– cchcch? or ? (formerly called Silver Agouti) |
Argente Creme | A– Cscs Fyfy** pp? or A– cchcch pp? (chinchillated Silver Fawn) | |
Lynx | A– Cscs Fyfy rr?, A– Cscs Fyfy mm rr?, or ? (came out of Chinchilla breedings) | |
Squirrel (U.K.) | A– Cscs Fyfy** gg*? or
A– gg cchcch? (chinchillated Blue Agouti) | |
Turpin (U.K.) | A– Cscs FyFy** Hro++H? or Cscs Fyfy** Hro++H? or A– cchcch HroHro++? (chinchillated Essex) | |
Fz: Fuzzy | ||
fz (fuzzy) | Hairless | hrhr or fzfz |
Fuzzy | fzfz or frH | |
G: Gray (code by Nichole Royer) | ||
g (gray; code by Nichole Royer) | Blue | aa gg* (selected for dark shade) |
Sky Blue | aa gg* (medium shade) | |
Powder Blue | aa gg* (selected for light shade) | |
Silver | aa gg pp* (P.E. Blue) | |
Dove | aa gg mm*, aa bb gg* | |
Lilac U.K. | aa bb gg mm Rr*; see also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Lilac | |
Platinum: black-eyed | aa bb gg* | |
Platinum: ruby-eyed | aa gg mm* | |
Platinum: pink-eyed | aa bb gg pp* | |
Russian Dove | aa dd mm, aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd | |
Pink-eyed Russian Dove | aa dd mm pp, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa dd gg mm pp*, aa bb dd pp | |
Silver Blue | aa dd gg* or aa dd gg mm?* | |
Blue Burmese | aa cech+ gg (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Blue Point Siamese | aa chch gg* | |
B. E. Blue Point Siamese | aa chci+ gg* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Blue Point Himalayan | aa chc gg* | |
B.E. Blue Point Himalayan | aa cici+ gg* (similar to extreme dilute gene in mice) | |
Platinum Agouti | A– bb gg* | |
Blue Agouti | A– gg* (Opal) | |
Opal | A– gg* (Blue Agouti) | |
Pink-eyed Blue Agouti | A– gg pp* (Apricot Agouti) | |
Apricot Agouti | A– gg pp* (P.E. Blue Agouti) | |
Silver Blue Agouti | A– dd gg* or A– dd gg mm?* | |
Russian Platinum Agouti | A– bb dd gg* | |
Squirrel (U.K.) | A– Cscs Fyfy** gg*? or
A– gg cchcch? (chinchillated Blue Agouti) | |
H: Hooded | ||
Hre (restricted) | Capped-Stripe | hreh; Hrehre (lethal)? |
Berkshire | Hh or hhe or hihi or hihn | |
Hro (Robert/Essex; code by Sheila Sowter) | Essex | Hro++ or Hro++H (color fading gene; has Berkshire markings but breeds as a Self) |
Baldie | Hro++h? | |
Turpin (U.K.) | A– Cscs FyFy** Hro++H? or Cscs Fyfy** Hro++H? or A– cchcch HroHro++? (chinchillated Essex) | |
hi (Irish) | English Irish | Hh, or Hhi if no Hooded produced in 2 Irish breedings |
Irish | Hh, or Hhi if no Hooded produced in 2 Irish breedings | |
Berkshire | Hh or hhe or hihi or hihn | |
Collared | ? (usually from Dalmatian breedings) or Heh? or Hehi? | |
Bareback | hh or hhe or hHms or hhi? | |
hn (notch) | Capped | hnhn |
Berkshire | Hh or hhe or hihi or hihn | |
he (extreme) | Masked | hehe |
Berkshire | Hh or hhe or hihi or hihn | |
Collared | ? (usually from Dalmatian breedings) or Heh? or Hehi? | |
Bareback | hh or hhe or hHms or hhi? | |
Tri-Merle | heh Me? | |
White: black-eyed | hehe or any h (marked selected for no spots; in either agouti-based or black-based color) | |
h (hooded) | Hooded | hh or hml (Hm=Hooded Modifier; hms or hml—short or long) |
English Irish | Hh, or Hhi if no Hooded produced in 2 Irish breedings | |
Irish | Hh, or Hhi if no Hooded produced in 2 Irish breedings | |
Berkshire | Hh or hhe or hihi or hihn | |
Bareback | hh or hhe or hHms or hhi? | |
Tri-Merle | heh Me? | |
Banded | ? (from Hooded stock) | |
hdu (down under) | Down Under | hdu? (dominant) |
White: black-eyed | hehe or any h (marked selected for no spots; in either agouti-based or black-based color) | |
White: pink-eyed | cc (albino; covers up the actual color/marking so can be either an agouti-based or black-based color) Note: extremely diluted P.E. Self colors or a P.E. Marked with all markings bred off can look like a P.E. White | |
Hr: Hairless | ||
hr (hairless) | Hairless | hrhr or fzfz |
K: Kinky | ||
k (kinky) | Kinky | kk |
M: Mink | ||
m (mink) | Mink | aa mm (selected for darker color) |
Silver Mink | aa mm Pepe (selected for colored hair shafts and darker color) | |
Lilac | aa mm or aa amam (selected for lighter color) See photos from 1978 of original U.S.A. Lilac male Hersheyand here, owned by Karen Hauser. He was found in a pet shop in Riverside, CA. | |
Silver Lilac | aa mm Pepe or aa amam Pepe (selected for colored hair shafts and lighter color) | |
Dove | aa gg mm*, aa bb gg* | |
Cocoa | aa bb mm (Coffee in U.K.), aa bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr (Havana in U.K.) | |
Coffee U.K. | aa bb mm (See also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Coffee) | |
Havana: U.K. | aa Bb mm Rr | |
Lilac U.K. | aa bb gg mm Rr*; see also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Lilac | |
Platinum: ruby-eyed | aa gg mm* | |
Champagne: dark–eyed | aa B– mm rr | |
Russian Dove | aa dd mm, aa bb dd gg*, aa dd gg mm*, aa bb dd | |
Russian Dove: pink-eyed | aa dd mm pp, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa dd gg mm pp*, aa bb dd pp | |
Russian Dove Pearl | aa dd mm Pepe, aa dd amam Pepe | |
Silver Blue | aa dd gg* or aa dd gg mm?* | |
Pearl | aa mm Pepe (selected for most of the hair shaft to be white; is a dominant lethal) | |
Mink/Lilac Merle | aa mm Me– pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* | |
Silver Mink/Silver Lilac Merle | aa mm Me– Pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* (selected for colored hair shafts) | |
Pearl Merle | aa mm Me– Pepe* (selected for most of the hair shaft to be white) | |
Apricot | A– bb pp Rr? or A– mm pp Rr? | |
Silver Fawn: light | A– mm pp (P.E. Cinnamon) | |
Cinnamon | A– mm (mink agouti) | |
Cinnamon: red | A– bb mm | |
Cinnamon: ruby-eyed | A– mm Rr | |
Cinnamon: silvered | A– mm | |
Cinnamon Pearl | A– mm Pepe | |
Lilac Agouti | A– bb mm Rr | |
Lynx | A– Cscs Fyfy rr?, A– Cscs Fyfy mm rr?, or ? (came out of Chinchilla breedings) | |
Russian Cinnamon | A– dd mm | |
Silver Blue Agouti | A– dd gg* or A– dd gg mm?* | |
Cinnamon Pearl Merle | A– mm Me– Pepe* | |
Me: Merle (code by Nichole Royer) | ||
Me (merle) | Merle: Cinnamon Pearl | A– mm Me– Pepe* |
Merle: Mink/Lilac | aa mm Me– pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* | |
Merle: Silver Mink/Silver Lilac | aa mm Me– Pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* (selected for colored hair shafts) | |
Merle: Pearl | aa mm Me– Pepe* (selected for most of the hair shaft to be white) | |
Tri-Merle | heh Me? | |
N: Naked | ||
n (naked) | Naked | nn |
Oe: Odd-eye | ||
oe (odd-eye) | Odd-Eye | oe or ? (has 2 different colored eyes; usually pink/black but can be ruby/black or pink/ruby) |
P: Pink-eyed Dilution | ||
p (pink-eye) | Champagne | aa B– pp (P.E. Black) |
Champagne: pale | aa bb pp (P.E. Chocolate) | |
Pink-eyed Platinum | aa bb gg pp* | |
Silver | aa gg pp* (P.E. Blue) | |
Pink-eyed Russian Dove | aa dd mm pp, aa bb dd gg pp*, aa dd gg mm pp*, aa bb dd pp | |
Pink-eyed Agouti | A– pp (Silver Fawn) | |
Silver Fawn | A– pp (P.E. Agouti) | |
Amber | A– pp (P.E. Agouti; a.k.a. a light Silver Fawn) | |
Silver Fawn: light | A– mm pp (P.E. Cinnamon) | |
Silver Fawn: P.E. Chocolate Agouti | A– bb pp | |
Apricot | A– bb pp Rr? or A– mm pp Rr? | |
Apricot Agouti | A– gg pp* (P.E. Blue Agouti) | |
Pink-eyed Blue Agouti | A– gg pp* (Apricot Agouti) | |
Argente Creme | A– Cscs Fyfy** pp? or A– cchcch pp? (chinchillated Silver Fawn) | |
Pink-eyed White | cc (albino; covers up the actual color/marking so can be either an agouti-based or black-based color) Note: extremely diluted P.E. Self colors or a P.E. Marked with all markings bred off can look like a P.E. White | |
Pe: Pearl | ||
Pe (pearl) | Pearl | aa mm Pepe (selected for most of the hair shaft to be white; is a dominant lethal) |
Russian Dove Pearl | aa dd mm Pepe, aa dd amam Pepe | |
Silver Lilac | aa mm Pepe or aa amam Pepe (selected for colored hair shafts and lighter color) | |
Silver Mink | aa mm Pepe (selected for colored hair shafts and darker color) | |
Silver Mink/Silver Lilac Merle | aa mm Me– Pepe* or aa amam Me– pepe* (selected for colored hair shafts) | |
Pearl Merle | aa mm Me– Pepe* (selected for most of the hair shaft to be white) | |
Cinnamon Pearl | A– mm Pepe | |
Cinnamon Pearl Merle | A– mm Me– Pepe* | |
R: Ruby-eye/Red-eye | ||
r (ruby-eye/red-eye) | Fawn | A– rr or AA bb rr (ruby-eyed Agouti; Topaz U.K.) |
Topaz (U.K.) | A– rr or AA bb rr (Fawn, U.S.) | |
Apricot | A– bb pp Rr? or A– mm pp Rr? | |
Russian Fawn | A– dd rr | |
Cinnamon: ruby-eyed | A– mm Rr | |
Lilac Agouti | A– bb mm Rr | |
Lynx | A– Cscs Fyfy rr?, A– Cscs Fyfy mm rr?, or ? (came out of Chinchilla breedings) | |
Beige | aa rr or aa bb rr (ruby-eyed Black; Buff U.K.) | |
Buff (U.K.) | aa rr or aa bb rr (Beige U.S.) | |
Champagne: dark–eyed | aa B– mm rr | |
Chocolate | aa bb or aa bb Rr or aa BB Rr | |
Cocoa | aa bb mm (Coffee in U.K.), aa bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr, aa Bb mm Rr (Havana in U.K.) | |
Lilac U.K. | aa bb gg mm Rr*; see also Hawthorn Rat Varieties: Lilac | |
Havana: U.K. | aa Bb mm Rr | |
Blue-Beige | aa dd rr | |
Re: Rex | ||
Re (rex) | Rex | Rere |
Rg: Ragged | ||
rg (ragged) | Ragged | rgrg |
Rnu: Rowett nude | ||
rnu (rowett nude) | Nude | rnurnu (Rowett nude) |
Sa: Satin | ||
sa (satin) | Satin | sasa |
Sh: Shaggy | ||
Sh (shaggy) | Shaggy | Sh |
Shn: Shorn | ||
shn (shorn) | Shorn | shnshn |
Sl: Spotting Lethal | ||
sl (spotting lethal) | B.E. White | slsl (recessive) these suffer from aganglionic megacolon associated with white coat color, usually BEW but occasionally have small spot on head and hips and die usually within first week to 35 days after birth |
St: Stub | ||
st (stub) | Tailless | stst? (recessive) |
Wv: Wavy | ||
wv (wavy) | Wavy | wvwv |
?: Unknown genetics | ||
? | Banded | ? (from Hooded stock) |
Blaze | many possible | |
Coffee U.S. | ? (coffee with cream/gray-brown color) | |
Harley | ? (recessive; sparse, fine, wispy coat with no undercoat) | |
Roan (Husky) | ? (recessive; roan gene lightens color with each moult till rat is nearly white; always in Berkshire or Berkshire Blaze markings) | |
Roan: Striped | ? (recessive; a.k.a. Banded Husky) | |
Snowflake | ? (small white spots belly and sides; a.k.a. stippeltjesin the Netherlands which means dots) | |
Variegated | ? (2 Var. never produce Self or Hooded) | |
Velvet | ? (recessive; short plush coat similar to Rex rabbits) |
C: Albino Locus (Burmese)+ (codes by Nichole Royer) | |
C | Full color (no dilution) |
ce+ | Extreme dilute |
ch | Acromelanism (Himalayan/Siamese) |
ci+ | Intense dilute |
c | Albino (Pink-Eyed White) |
C: Albino Locus (Marten and Siamese Sable)# (codes by Nicole Housel) | |
C | Full color (no dilution) |
cm# | Marten |
cs# | Siamese Sable |
ch | Acromelanism (Himalayan/Siamese) |
c | Albino (Pink-Eyed White) |
Note: Many rat colors/varieties have not been studied by geneticists so codes are given by fancy rat genetics experts or are unknown
Note: Capital letter=dominant genes unless otherwise noted; lower case letter=recessive genes
“–” means that either the dominant or recessive allele could occupy that space without affecting the outcome
* = g or Me or Dal code by Nichole Royer
** = Cscs Fyfy code by Ann Storey, N.F.R.S.
+ = ce or ci code by Nichole Royer
++ = Hro code by Sheila Sowter, N.F.R.S.
# = cm or cs code by Nicole Housel
? = genetics unknown