Agouti colors have at least three colors per hair shaft in the main color of the body. There is always a base color, an intermediate band, and ticking color. There may be more rings than the three, typically with the base and intermediate color alternating.
Please note: the colors in the hair shaft art are an approximation. Real band colors may vary in exact shade and intensity based on rufus modifiers and other intensity modifiers. Bands can also be naturally wider or narrower, with or without the actions of the Wideband mutation.
Full Color (C allele) agouti colors have an orange or fawn intermediate band. The ticking is either black (chestnut agouti), blue (opal), chocolate (chocolate agouti), or lilac (lynx). The undercolor is usually a lighter version of the ticking color. Correct lynx have white undercolor, caused by the action of modifier genes which remove the dove grey undercolor lynx would normally have. Keeping correct undercolor often requires not breeding out to other colors, as all other agouti colors require colored undercolor. Opals may also end up with white undercolor, which is a disqualification.
Chestnut
A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ W_
Opal
A_ B_ C_ dd E_ W_
Chocolate Chestnut
A_ bb C_ D_ E_ W_
Lynx (incorrect undercolor)
A_ bb C_ dd E_ W_
Lynx (correct undercolor)
A_ bb C_ dd E_ W_
Chinchilla Dark (cchd allele) agouti colors, otherwise known as "chinchilla colors", have a white intermediate band instead of orange or fawn. This is caused by the action of the cchd allele. It prevents all phaeomelanin (red-yellow pigment) from forming in the coat, leaving white instead.
Chinchilla
A_ B_ cchd_ D_ E_ W_
Squirrel
A_ B_ cchd_ dd E_ W_
Chocolate Chinchilla
A_ bb cchd_ D_ E_ W_
Lilac Chinchilla
A_ bb cchd_ dd E_ W_
Chinchilla Light/Sable (cchl_) agouti colors have the same white intermediate bands. However, the cchl allele also partially affects the eumelanin (black-brown pigment). the remaining color bands (ticking and undercolor) also have a bit less pigment. With seal chinchillas, the color of the ticking will be fairly uniform across the entire rabbit. However, if you look closely at a sable chinchilla or smoke pearl chinchilla, you will see the same shaded pattern of somewhat darker across the face, ears, and legs as a regular sable or smoke pearl. It is more difficult to see in the chinchilla version, though, as you're looking mostly at the ticking!
Seal/Sable Chinchilla
A_ B_ cchl_ D_ E_ W_
Blue Seal/Smoke Pearl Chinchilla
A_ B_ cchl_ dd E_ W_
Chocolate Seal/Sable Chinchilla
A_ bb cchl_ D_ E_ W_
Lilac /Seal Sable Chinchilla
A_ bb cchl_ dd E_ W_
The Wideband (w) mutation is aptly named, as it widens the intermediate band. This reduces the effect the ticking has on the overall appearance of the color by allowing more of the intermediate band to show through.
Copper/Rufus
A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ ww
Wideband Opal
A_ B_ C_ dd E_ ww
Wideband Chocolate Chestnut
A_ bb C_ D_ E_ ww
Wideband Lynx (white undercolor)
A_ bb C_ dd E_ ww
Wideband Chinchilla
A_ B_ cchd_ D_ E_ ww
Wideband Squirrel
A_ B_ cchd_ dd E_ ww
Wideband Chocolate Chinchilla
A_ bb cchd_ D_ E_ ww
Wideband Lilac Chinchilla
A_ bb cchd_ dd E_ ww
Wideband Seal/Sable Chinchilla
A_ B_ cchl_ D_ E_ ww
Wideband Blue Seal/Smoke Pearl Chinchilla
A_ B_ cchl_ dd E_ ww
Wideband Chocolate Seal/Sable Chinchilla
A_ bb cchl_ D_ E_ ww
Wideband Lilac Seal/Sable Chinchilla
A_ bb cchl_ dd E_ ww
Photo credits: lynx (incorrect) Pendorheim Homestead
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