Colours, Markings and Coat Types | Just Another Rant By Soul

Rat Colours, Markings and Coat Types

Here in Australia our variety of rat types is expending every day, but in comparison to other countries like the U.K and the U.S.A, our varieties are limited.
Australia is yet to develop varieties such as Dumbo, Himalayan, Siamese, Burmese, Roan, Husky etc.
Thankfully though, in Australia we also DON'T have any of the deadly diseases in our rats like other countries such as Sendai, Corona, and Megacolon.

Below you will find basic information on the varieties of rats we have in Australia regarding:

Basic Rat Genetics

Different Coat Colours

Different Coat Types

Different Coat Markings

We would love to be able to be able to continue adding photos to each of Colour, Coat & Marking Types below for each of the different types listed below and how different things like age can change the way colours, coats & markings look. So, if you have a rat whose colour, coat or marking looks different to the pics shown below and you would like to share it with us, please email them to us and remember to let us know your rats name, sex, age, colour, coat type, along with your name or rattery, so we can list you as the owner.

Basic Rat Genetics

You can find out basic Genetics Information on the Rats in Australia by clicking on the following tabs.

The basics of genetics is that each trait has two copies of each gene, one from the father and one from the mother. A capital letter represents a dominant gene, and a lower-case letter represents a recessive gene (I'm sure there's a better way to explain that, but I'm not sure on the technical details).

AA = Agouti (wild type) Aa = Agouti carrying a non-agouti gene, and aa= non-agouti (black). Agouti is Dominant, Black is Recessive.

So as examples:

Two genetically AA-Agouti-based rats will only ever produce more Agouti based babies. (AA x AA = all AA) The same with one AA-Agouti and one Aa-agouti. But two Aa-Agoutis, or one Aa-Agouti and one aa-Black with produce a litter with both Agouti and Black-based babies in it. and two aa-Blacks together will create an all black-based litter. The trick is knowing what your rat is genetically (which if they are Agouti based, there's no way of knowing whether they're AA or Aa unless you know that one of their parents was black-based(therefore passing on a little 'a') or you've bred them before and figured it out from that) As a baby randomly gets two genes from each parent, AA x Aa = approx half AA and half Aa (agouti) babies. AA x aa = All Aa babies. Aa x Aa= 1/4 AA, 1/2 Aa, 1/4 aa. etc.

Now, most dilute colours are recessive as well, and therefore act the same way as black does. Mink, Blue, Ruby-eyes, and Pink-eyes are all recessive dilutes. Chocolate on the other hand is either dominant or co-dominant. (and no one has yet chosen what letters will represent it here in australia, so I couldn't fill it in )

So here are some colour examples

AaMmddrrPp = (Agouti-carrying non-agouti)(carrying mink)(expressing blue)(expressing RE)(carrying PE) = Blue-fawn (carrying mink and pink-eyes)

aammDDRrPP = (Non-agouti based)(Mink-based)(not carrying blue)(carrying RE)(not carrying PE) = Mink (carrying ruby-eyes)

AAMMDdR*pp = (Agouti)(not carrying mink)(carrying blue)(May or may not carry RE)(expressing PE) = Silverfawn (carrying blue, and possibly RE)

Rex Pairings:

Standard to Double Rex/DRex = all Single Rex,
Drex to Rex = 50/50% Rex and DRex,
Rex to Rex = 25% Standard, 50% Rex and 25% DRex,
DRex to DRex = all DRex

Powderpuff Pairings:

Powderpuff to Powderpuff = 100% Powderpuff
Powderpuff to Standard = Standards with slightly longer hair

Silk Pairings:

Standard to Double Silk = all Single Silk,
Double Silk to Silk = 50/50% Silk and Double Silk,
Silk to Silk = 25% Standard, 50% Silk and 25% Double Silk,
Double Silk to Double Silk = 100% DRex

Patchwork Pairings:

To breed Patchworks you need to have a Patchwork to breed with but as to how it works is still a bit of a mystery.

For a better understanding of Rat Genetics visit
http://www.australianratforum.com/genetics/
http://australianratforum.com/forum/showthread.php?1520-Genetics-for-Dummies&highlight=dummies
http://www.freewebs.com/28thrat/old-site/inforex.htm
http://sunshinerats.com/introduction-to-rat-genetics.php
http://sunshinerats.com/australian-rat-genes.php
http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_2.htm
http://sunshinerats.com/rat-litter-predictor.php

Rat Coat Types

You can find out basic Information on the different Coat Types of Rats in Australia by clicking on the following tabs.

Standard rats have a short smooth, sleek coat with long guard hairs.

: Gandolf – Dark Mink Irish Standard – Owned by Critterized

: Muffin – Blue Dove Standard – Owned by Critterized

: Dasher – BEW Standard – Owned by Critterized

Rex rats have a curl/wave to their coat and whiskers, it is more noticeable before they reach adulthood. Rex rat coats can differ from a poor Rex with a just noticeable curl/wave or full Rex where the curl/wave is much more noticeable. This gene is co-dominant and was the first different coat type to appear in Australia after the standard coat.

: Shadow – Black Rex Berk – Owned by Critterized

: Shadow – Black Rex Berk – Owned by Critterized

: Shadow – Black Rex Berk – Owned by Critterized

: Amphitrite – Blue Hooded Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Poseidon – Blue Berk Rex – Owned by Critterized

Double Rex or DRex rats have tightly curled/wavy coat and whiskers, they go through a moult around 6 weeks of age where they lose all their hair and then it grows back in tight curls and stays this way, the hair is much thicker than a Rex and has plush feel to it. The Double Rex gene is caused by having 2 copies of the Rex gene meaning that both parents carry the Rex gene. Double Rex rats can sometimes be prone to ingrown hairs, whiskers and eye lashers.

: Iggy – Blue Hooded DRex – Owned by Critterized

: Iggy – Blue Hooded DRex – Owned by Critterized

: Iggy – Blue Hooded DRex – Owned by Critterized

: Black DRex – Owned by RexStar Rattery

: Black DRex – Owned by RexStar Rattery

Patchwork Rex rats coats moult all through their life, with their hair growing back in different places like an ever-changing patchwork. So, they never look the same one day to the next, their hair is usually coarse and can look curled, wavy or straight.

: Ares – Black Patchwork Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Ares – Black Patchwork Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Ares – Black Patchwork Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Ares – Black Patchwork Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Ares – Black Patchwork Rex – Owned by Critterized

Silk rats have a very soft and shiny coat, it has a kind of iridescent sheen to it giving it a slight "wet" appearance and their hair lies flat against them. Around 10% of them don't have guard hairs and yet the males stay very soft even as an adult. It is a co-dominant coat type and so far there are no known health issues associated with this gene.

: Aphrodite – Chocolate Champagne Silk Self – Owned by Critterized

: Aphrodite – Chocolate Champagne Silk Self – Owned by Critterized

: Silk Self – Owned by Critterized

: Hephaestus – Chocolate Agouti Silk Self – Owned by Critterized

: Chocolate Agouti Silk Self’s – Owned by Critterized

: Hephaestus – Chocolate Agouti Silk Self – Owned by Critterized

Rat Markings

You can find out basic Information on the different Coat Markings of Rats in Australia by clicking on the following tabs.

When a rat is completely the same colour all over (belly sometimes same colour but slightly lighter shade) this is called "Self"

: Agouti – Geordie Gr. Ch. Kismet Geordie Agouti Self Owned by Karen Riddell

: Agouti – Geordie Gr. Ch. Kismet Geordie Agouti Self Owned by Karen Riddell

Berkshire rats are similar to the Irish but Berkshire rats have a white mark on their belly that can completely cover their belly.

: Shadow – Black Berk Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Zoe Gr. Ch. Kismet Zodiac Agouti Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Zoe Gr. Ch. Kismet Zodiac Agouti Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

Variegated rats are the same as a Berkshire but they have white splashes going from their tummy up into the colour on their sides between their front and hind legs.

: Black Variegated Berk – Owned by Macy

: Storm Kismet Storm Caller Cinnamon Variegated Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Storm Kismet Storm Caller Cinnamon Variegated Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

Hooded rats have a coloured hood covering their head, neck, chest, shoulders continuing down their spine to their tail. It is unbroken and a relatively wide stripe.

: Edward – Mink Hooded – Owned by Critterized

: Gryffin – Black Wedge Hooded – Owned by Critterized

: Jacob – Cinnamon Hooded – Owned by Critterized

: Wicca Argente Hood – Owned by Karen Riddell

Mismarked/Broken Hooded rats a coloured hood covering their head, neck, chest, shoulders continuing down their spine to their tail. It is broken up, irregular and sometimes appears to be splotchy.

: Charlotte – Black Mismarked hooded Powderpuff Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Hannah – Cinnamon Broken Hooded – Owned by Critterized

: Maddie – Black Broken Hooded – Owned by Critterized

Wedge Blaze rats have a White wedge mark on their face called a blaze. It goes from their muzzle and stops before their ears. Some are smaller than others and not as defined.

: Gryffin – Black Wedge Hooded – Owned by Critterized

: Gryffin – Black Wedge Hooded – Owned by Critterized

: Pagan Bejayare Pagan Moon Champagne Blaze Hood – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Zuse – Chocolate Wedge Mismarked Bareback – Owned by Critterized

Solid top stripe and solid belly stripe. No side spotting. The rat shall have hood that covers the head, throat and shoulders and continues with a connected and continuous stripe that should measure 1 inch or slightly wider, and be in proportion to the rat. The coloured stripe should be complete, unbroken and devoid of brindling. The belly stripe should be a connected and continuous stripe of colour extending from the coloured area beneath the throat all the way to and filling the area between the back legs.

: Beau Mischief Makers Beaujolais Souffle Mink Downunder Hood Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

: Beau Mischief Makers Beaujolais Souffle Mink Downunder Hood Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

Solid top stripe with side spotting and solid belly stripe. The colour should include all of the head, throat and shoulders with a hood strip that is 1 inch or slightly wider, and be in proportion to the rat. The belly stripe should be a connected and continuous stripe of colour extending from the coloured area beneath the throat all the way to, and filling the area between the back legs. The sides are to be white with as many colour spots as possible, and be evenly distributed.

: Gelato Mischief Makers Bordeau Gelato Mink Downunder hooded Spotted – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

: Gelato Mischief Makers Bordeau Gelato Mink Downunder hooded Spotted – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

Broken hood stripe and broken belly stripe with side spots. The back and belly stripes are to be as broken as possible, giving the effect of spotting all over the back and belly. Side spots are desirable. The hood colour should include all of the head, throat and shoulders. The line of demarcation beneath the hood should cross the chest where the throat joins and it and should be smooth without raggedness or brindling except where intercepting a spot.

: Mischief Makers Rolled Oats Black Downunder Spotted – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

Broken hood stripe with side spots and solid belly stripe. The hood should cover the head throat and shoulders with the hood stripe as broken up as possible, giving the effect of spotting all over the back with side spotting. The belly stripe should be a connected and continuous stripe of colour, extending from the coloured area beneath the throat all the way to, and filling the area between the back legs.

: Pepper Mischief Makers Cracked Pepper Black Downunder Variegated – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

: Pepper Mischief Makers Cracked Pepper Black Downunder Variegated – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

The rat shall conform to the Berkshire standard, but with a solid coloured belly stripe running down the centre of the entire Berkshire belly, from the rats throat to the tail. The belly stripe is to be as solid and symmetrical as possible and not contain any white spots.

: Mischief Makers Bonbomiere Black Downunder Berkshire – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

: Mischief Makers Bonbomiere Black Downunder Berkshire – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

Rat Colours

You can find out basic Information on the different Coat Colours of Rats in Australia by clicking on the following tabs.

Below you find basic information on the following rat coat colours:

- Variants for Agouti (ticked hairs)

- Variants for Non-Agouti (solid hairs)

- Variants for White

Variant - Agouti (ticked hairs)

Agouti =

AA true Agouti,
Aa Agouti carrying Black

Often referred to as the "wild rat" colour, Agouti rats have a ticked coat that appears to be a brownie grey colour with black guard hairs, with a lighter grey belly and they have black eyes. Agouti is a dominant colour and their coats can become a rusted brown/yellow colour.

: Owned by RexStar Rattery

: Agouti – Geordie Gr. Ch. Kismet Geordie Agouti Self – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Agouti – Geordie Gr. Ch. Kismet Geordie Agouti Self – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Athena- Agouti DRex Self – Owned by Critterized

: Zoe Gr. Ch. Kismet Zodiac Agouti Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

Cinnamon - (Mink Agouti) A*mm

Cinnamon rats have black eyes and brown guard hairs, and their colour is often called caramel. They have ticked coats usually appearing caramel/tan brown colour. They have a mink cap when the go through their moult. Cinnamon is a diluted form of Agouti.

: Cinnamon and Mink Standard Comparison pic – Owned by Critterized

: PEW, Cinnamon & Argente babies camparison pic – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Cinnamon – Poppy Cinnamon Self Owned by Karen Riddell

: Cinnamon – Poppy Cinnamon Self Owned by Karen Riddell

: Cinnamon Standard Hooded – Owned by RexStar Rattery

: Hannah – Cinnamon Broken Hooded – Owned by Critterized

: Jacob – Cinnamon Hooded – Owned by Critterized

Argente - (Ruby Eyed Mink Agouti) A*mmrr

Argente is often confused with Cinnamon and Fawn. You can tell the difference between Argente and Cinnamon because Argentes have ruby eyes and a lack of dark guard hairs and you can tell the difference between Argenet and Fawn because Argente have a creamy white undercoat and orange guard hairs.

: PEW, Cinnamon & Argente babies camparison pic – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Gambit Argente Mis-Marked Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Gambit Argente Mis-Marked Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Gambit Argente Mis-Marked Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

Silverfawn - (Pink Eyed Agouti) A*pp

Silverfawn rats are a soft/pale apricot colour with a cream undercoat and an evenly silvery cream ticked coat and guard hairs and pink eyes.

: Miley – Silverfawn Berk Standard – Owned by Critterized

: Speckles Silverfawn Hood – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Speckles Silverfawn Hood – Owned by Karen Riddell

Variant - Non-Agouti (solid hairs)

Black - aa

Black rats are usually dark and glossy although they do come in different shades of black, some looking more of a chocolate colour, and they have black eyes and guard hairs. Their Black coats are usually silvered, some more than others, and they can rust to a red/brown colour.

: Hades – Black Berk Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Shadow – Black Berk Rex – Owned by Critterized

: Shadow – Black Berk Rex – Owned by Critterized

Mink - (Mink Black) aamm

Mink rat coat colour can vary from a warm dark grey brown to a warm light grey brown colour that can sometimes be confused as blue, till you see the colours up against each other. They have black eyes and their coats can sometimes be silvered.

: Gandolf – Mink Irish Standard – Owned by Critterized

: Gandolf – Mink Irish Standard – Owned by Critterized

: Gelato Mischief Makers Bordeau Gelato Mink Downunder hooded Spotted – Owned by Mischief Makers Rattery

: Cinnamon and Mink Standard Comparison pic – Owned by Critterized

: Edward – Mink Hooded – Owned by Critterized

Blue - (aadd)

Blue rats have Black Eyes and are commonly mistaken for mink or dove rats, but they can easily be told apart by their slate Blue cool colour, where minks have a warmer tone to them and doves are much paler.

: Blue and Mink Comparison pic (Blue is on the left) – Owned by Critterized

: Blue Rex bubs – Owned by Critterized

: Poseidon – Blue Rex Berk – Owned by Critterized

Chocolate (aa??)

Chocolate rats have Black Eyes and their colour ranges from a dark rich chocolate colour to a softer cocoa colour. As this is a fairly new gene to Australia so we are still unsure as to how it works, but it appears to be co-dominant. Carriers of the gene usually start of chocolate but as they get older they seem to appear more of a dark chocolate/black, Rat who have 2 copies of the gene (both parents have chocolate gene) seem to hold the chocolate colour better throughout their lives.

: Hera – Chocolate Berk – Owned by Critterized

: Zeus – Chocolate Wedge Mismarked Bareback – Owned by Critterized

: Chocolate Babies

: Chocolate Babies

Buff - (Ruby Eyed Black) aarr

Buff rats have ruby eyes and their coats are a warm beige colour with guard hairs that match their coat. Often confused with Dove.

: Angel – Buff Berk Standard – Owned by Critterized (has one 1st place twice for Buff colour at the QLDAusRFS 7/8.11, 9/10/11)

: Angel – Buff Berk Standard – Owned by Critterized (has one 1st place twice for Buff colour at the QLDAusRFS 7/8.11, 9/10/11)

: Angel – Buff Berk Standard – Owned by Critterized (has one 1st place twice for Buff colour at the QLDAusRFS 7/8.11, 9/10/11)

: Angel – Buff Berk Standard – Owned by Critterized (has one 1st place twice for Buff colour at the QLDAusRFS 7/8.11, 9/10/11)

: Buff – Harmony (The baby in the photo is Lily) Buff Self Owned by Karen Riddell

Dove - (Ruby Eyed Mink Black) aammrr

Dove rats get confused with light grey Minks as their colour is very similar, but Dove is generally paler and can be told apart by the Dove's ruby eyes. Shades of Dove go from a silvery grey blue to a pale browny grey with pale grey guard hairs. Dove is also often confused with Buff but there colour usually has a more cooler tone to it then the Buffs warmer Beige colour.

: Lily Dove Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

: Lily Dove Berkshire – Owned by Karen Riddell

Champagne - (Pink Eyed Black) aapp

Champagne rats have pink eyes and a warm creamy off-white colour to a light pinkish grey coloured coat. Their colour can sometimes be hard to tell apart from white on Champagne Hooded and Berkshire rats.

: Persephone – Champagne Rex Berk – Owned by Critterized

: Champagne Silk Rex Berk – Owned by RexStar Rattery

: Persephone – Champagne Rex Berk – Owned by Critterized

: Persephone – Champagne Rex Berk – Owned by Critterized

: Pagan Bejayare Pagan Moon Champagne Blaze Hood – Owned by Karen Riddell

Variant - White

Black Eyed White (BEW nn)

Black Eyed White/BEW have a pure white coat and Black Eyes

: Dasher – BEW Standard – Owned by Critterized

: Mitsy – BEW Standard – Owned by Critterized

: Hestia – Mismarked BEW – Owned by Critterized