Rabbit Colors
A Quick Guide to Rabbit Colors
There are 11 different locus points in the genotype that controls the color of a rabbit. The color we see is the rabbit's phenotype, and each locus point has two alleles, as show below.
A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ En_ Si_ Du_ P_ W_ V_
An allele is one of two or more alternative forms of a gene, for example dominant and recessive. When reading a genotype an uppercase letter indicates a dominant allele, and a lowercase letter indicates a recessive allele. A recessive allele will not be physically expressed (not part of the phenotype) if there is a more dominant allele present at the locus. In this guide alleles are listed in order of dominance (most dominant listed first).
A Locus
- A = agouti
- at = tan/otter
- a = self
Phenotypic Expressions:
- AA, Aat, Aa = agouti
- atat, ata = tan
- aa = self
B Locus
- B = black
- b = chocolate
Phenotypic Expressions:
- BB, Bb = black based color
- bb = chocolate based color
C Locus
- C = full color
- cchd = chinchilla (chin dark)
- cchl = shaded (chin light/sable)
- ch* = himalayan (pointed)
- c = REW
* This pattern is temperature sensitive - kits born during summer or winter can have their color come in incorrectly depending on environmental factors, like being pressed against a cold nest box. This will molt out.
Phenotypic Expressions:
- C_ = full color
- cchd_ = chinchilla
- cchl_ = shaded
- ch_ = himalayan (pointed)
- cc = REW
D Locus
- D = no dilution
- d* = dilution
* blue is dilute black, lilac is dilute chocolate
Phenotypic Expressions:
- D_ = not dilute
- dd = dilute
E Locus
- Es = steel (gold tipped or silver tipped)
- E = full extension
- ej = harlequin
- e = non-extension (tort)
Phenotypic Expressions:
- EsEs = "super steel" - appears self
- Es_ = steel
- E_ = color extends through the full hair shaft
- ej_ = harlequin, tricolor, or charlie depending on the alleles at the En locus (broken gene); ejej is ideal for proper expression of harlequin - eje looks brindled instead of nice patches of color
- ee = tort, orange
En Locus
- En = broken
- en = not broken
Phenotypic Expressions:
- EnEn = charlie (<10% color)
- Enen = broken
- enen = solid
Si Locus
- SI = no silvering
- si = silvering
Phenotypic Expressions:
- SISI, SIsi = no silvering
- sisi = silvering
P Locus
- P = no effect
- p = lutino
Phenotypic Expressions:
- PP, Pp = no effect
- pp = lutino
W Locus
- W = none
- w = wideband
Phenotypic Expressions:
- WW, Ww = none
- ww = wideband
V Locus
- V = no vienna
- v = vienna
Phenotypic Expressions:
- VV = no vienna
- Vv = vienna marked or vienna carrier
- vv = BEW*
* BEW rabbits can be used to test breed a suspected vienna carrier - if BEW kits are produced then you know that rabbit is carrying vienna.
Hook's Hollands has an excellent color guide with example photos of Holland Lops as well as a very informative video - you can find that here.