chinchillacolors2
Multiple Mutation Colors
The following colors seen in these chinchillas are caused by a combination of mutations as opposed to a single mutation. The chin often exhibits some characteristics of both mutations. These colors are also sometimes characterized as hybrid colors.
Pink white (PW) - White x Beige
BELOW LEFT: Pink white female named Ivory, courtesy of Sandi in Chicago, IL BELOW RIGHT: Lu, a pink white male who was
fostered here and is now at his forever home with Dawn of Sunnyvale, CA. Notice the beige markings on his face and tail BOTTOM LEFT: Snap, a homo pink white (homozygous for beige) owned by Ridge Chinchillas, bred by Vin Somavia. Note the lighter eye color due to having two beige genes. BOTTOM RIGHT: A homo pink white owned by Kathy of Canada.
The pink white is a combination of the white gene and one (hetero) or two (homo) beige genes. The white is normally most influential in the chinchilla's coat color although most pink whites have some indication of beige as seen in their pink ears and sometimes beige markings. Eyes are normally dark but can be ruby-colored in a chin with heavy beige influence, especially homo pink whites (a pink white with two beige genes, short for homozygous). A pink white cannot be homozygous for the white gene due to the lethal factor of white in the homozygous form.
Tan White - White x Beige x ebony
LEFT: Tan white with visible markings extending onto the belly due to the ebony influence, courtesy of RDZC Ranch ABOVE: Fuzzy, a tan white showing dark markings and belly markings, owned by Tara of Shillington, PAThe tan white is similar in appearance to a pink white (since it has beige and white genes) but may have darker markings, some of which some may extend onto the belly due to the ebony influence. Some tan whites may not phenotypically show any sign of ebony because the white gene may mask nearly all colors on the animal. In chinchillas like this, sometimes one won't know it carries ebony until it throws an ebony baby! Tan whites have eyes which can range in color from dark to ruby, depending on the number of beige and ebony genes. The pictures shown above are of very obvious tan whites, although not all tan white chins may show the ebony influence as well as they do.
Tan (Pastel - light tan, Chocolate - extra dark tan) - Beige x ebony
ABOVE LEFT: A homo tan (homozygous for beige) showing the wrap effect on the belly due to the ebony genes and the light colored eyes due to the beige genes, courtesy of Sunset Chinchillas ABOVE RIGHT: Light tan, Biscuit, owned by Jane of San Jose, CA. Coloration is slightly darker than a typical beige but notice: no white belly BELOW LEFT: Wile E., a medium tan owned by Cuddlebug Chinchillas. BELOW RIGHT: Dark tan male with freckling on the ears, owned by Marion of Germany
Just as ebonies come in varying shades, the same applies to tans which have various ebony genes as well as one or both beige genes. Tans are normally characterized as light (also called pastels by some in the US, not be confused by pastels in the UK which are a combination of beige and charcoal, which is separate from the US' ebonies), medium, dark, or extra dark (also called chocolates, although these are very uncommon). The ebony genes causes the color of the body to wrap around the body so that the animal does not have the white belly. The more ebony genes, the darker the color. Also, just as some lines of beiges can develop freckles on the ears, tans can also develop freckles due to the beige influence.
Brown Velvet (TOV Beige) - Black velvet (TOV) x Beige
ABOVE LEFT: Carlos, a brown velvet boy owned by CarolAnne of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Note the heavy veiling along his sides. This picture was taken indoors in low light conditions. ABOVE RIGHT: Gerard, a brown velvet owned by Sandi of Illinois. See the darker colored face (compared to a beige chin) and his white belly. This picture was taken with the illumination of natural sunlight.The brown velvet is a slightly darker beige colored animal with heavy brown veiling over the back and sides and a mask over the face due to the TOV/black velvet gene. Brown velvets should also have a crisp white belly. Brown velvets also generally have some shade of ruby-colored eyes due to the influence of the beige gene. Also, just as some lines of beiges can have freckles on the ears, so, too, can brown velvets.
Beige violet (Pearl) - violet x Beige
LEFT: From L to R, a beige violet, a beige v/c (violet carrier) and a hetero beige, courtesy of Sunset Chinchillas RIGHT: A young beige violet courtesy of Quality Mutation ChinchillasAlthough not commonly bred for due to the improvements that still need to be made to the violets, a beige violet is a cross between both violet and beige. This combination of mutations is sometimes also called "pearl" in the UK. As violet is recessive, the chinchilla must receive a violet gene from both parents and at least one beige gene from either parent. The resulting color is a lighter creamier beige color over the body without strong veiling or grotzen and a white belly. A chinchilla who receives a beige gene and only one violet gene is a beige violet carrier (v/c) and may be lighter in color due to the violet parent's lack of veiling but does not have the light creamy beige coloration of a beige violet.
TOV White - Black velvet (TOV) x White
LEFT: A TOV mosaic with a dark mask, may also be called an extreme mosaic due to the dark markings, courtesy of Quality Mutation Chinchillas ABOVE RIGHT: Cherry, a TOV mosaic with a faint mask, owned by TeresaSince the white gene does an efficient job at masking any other colors, it is often times difficult to tell if a TOV white is, in fact, TOV. Sometimes the white gene will mask all color and the only way to confirm that the animal has TOV is if it produces a black velvet or TOV kit. The TOV whites who do show evidence of TOV normally show it as a mask on the face or sometimes dark colorations or veiling. Like regular mosaics, a white with stark splotches or dark markings is sometimes called an extreme mosaic.
TOV Ebony (TOV Eb) - Black Velvet (TOV) x ebony
LEFT: Hobbes, a TOV ebony owned by Andrea of WI. At first glance, he looks like a black velvet but does not fade along his sides to a white belly RIGHT: A shot of Hobbes' gray bellyThe TOV Ebony looks much like a black velvet except that it doesn't have a white belly, due to the influence of the ebony genes. Just as ebony comes in various shades, so too can a TOV ebony. A chinchilla may just show the ebony influence as a bit of dark tipping on the white belly hairs, the belly may be completely gray or the animal may be so dark, it appears to be a homo ebony and one can't even tell if it is TOV by appearance.
TOV Violet (Ultra Violet) - Black Velvet (TOV) x violet
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A TOV Violet is violet-colored but with heavy veiling over the back and face due to the TOV gene. The TOV gene also tends to create a darker violet color as well. Since violet is a recessive gene, the chinchilla would have to be homozygous for violet, receiving a violet gene from each parent; the chinchilla would also have received a TOV gene from one parent.
Violet Wrap - violet x ebony
ABOVE LEFT: Kami and Kali, violet wrap girls of light and dark color phases, owned by Justine of PA ABOVE RIGHT: Quincy, a violet wrap rescue male here at Chinchilla Chateau
The violet wrap is a solid violet color over the entire body. The Ebony genes cause the violet color to "wrap" around so that the animal does not have a white belly. Just as ebony comes in varying phases, a violet wrap can also come in light to dark phases.
TOV Sapphire (Sapphire Royale) - Black Velvet (TOV) x sapphire
ABOVE: A TOV Sapphire owned by Mish Irish of PA
The TOV Sapphire is a gunmetal blue color with heavy veiling over the back and face due to the TOV gene. The TOV gene also tends to create a darker color. Since sapphire is a recessive gene, the chinchilla would have to be homozygous for sapphire, receiving a sapphire gene from each parent; the chinchilla would also have received a TOV gene from one parent.
White Violet
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White Sapphire
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