English Angora Colors
Angoras almost always look very different than non-wooled breeds of the same color. This is due to the way the color is seemingly 'stretched' throughout the entire strand of wool. Like a rubber band that is being stretched, or a printer that is running out of toner, the wool tends to get lighter and lighter as it grows. Black becomes grey, blue becomes grey, lilac becomes... grey.. chocolate becomes brown-grey... it can be rather confusing! This is why we primarily look at the face to determine color. The English Angora is especially confusing because even the face and ears are covered in wool. For years I have been saying that I was going to make a color page to help people learn, so here I am, finally getting around to the task.
Selfs
So I'll start with the basics. Black, blue, chocolate and lilac.
Black
The genotype for Black is: aaB_C_D_E_
Pictured is a 5 month old buck in show coat, 3 shots of a senior buck in a puppy clip, a 5 week old and a nest full of babies. All of these pictures show Black English Angoras of various coat stages.
The genotype for Black is: aaB_C_D_E_
Pictured is a 5 month old buck in show coat, 3 shots of a senior buck in a puppy clip, a 5 week old and a nest full of babies. All of these pictures show Black English Angoras of various coat stages.
Blue
The genotype for blue is: aaB_C_ddE_
Genetically, blue is just black with 2 copies of the dilute gene.
Pictured we have a very DARK blue in show coat (courtesy of Treasured Angoras), a nest with 2 blue kits in the middle, and a sheared senior (also courtesy of Treasured Angoras.)
The genotype for blue is: aaB_C_ddE_
Genetically, blue is just black with 2 copies of the dilute gene.
Pictured we have a very DARK blue in show coat (courtesy of Treasured Angoras), a nest with 2 blue kits in the middle, and a sheared senior (also courtesy of Treasured Angoras.)
Chocolate
The genotype for chocolate is: aabbC_D_E_
It is like black, but with 2 copies of the chocolate gene (bb.)
Pictured we have a photo with a couple of 2.5 week old chocolate babies in the middle, and an 8 week old chocolate (pictures courtesy of Treasured Angoras.) We also have a senior chocolate in a grow-back coat, courtesy of Dawning Menagerie Rabbitry.
The genotype for chocolate is: aabbC_D_E_
It is like black, but with 2 copies of the chocolate gene (bb.)
Pictured we have a photo with a couple of 2.5 week old chocolate babies in the middle, and an 8 week old chocolate (pictures courtesy of Treasured Angoras.) We also have a senior chocolate in a grow-back coat, courtesy of Dawning Menagerie Rabbitry.
Torts
Torts come in 4 colors: Black tort, blue tort, chocolate tort and lilac tort. Tort is a super common English Angora color, even though it is caused by a recessive gene. Tort is decided on the E locus. E= not tort, while ee=tort.
Black Tort
The genotype for black tort is: aaB_C_D_ee
Pictured is a 4 month old (courtesy of Treasured Angoras), an 11 week old and a 3 day old.
Black Tort
The genotype for black tort is: aaB_C_D_ee
Pictured is a 4 month old (courtesy of Treasured Angoras), an 11 week old and a 3 day old.
Blue Tort
The genotype for blue tort is: aaB_C_ddee
It is just like black tort, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene (dd.)
Pictured we have a senior in a puppy clip, a 6 week old and an 11 week old.
The genotype for blue tort is: aaB_C_ddee
It is just like black tort, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene (dd.)
Pictured we have a senior in a puppy clip, a 6 week old and an 11 week old.
Chocolate Tort
The genotype for chocolate tort is: aabbC_D_ee
It is like black tort, but with 2 copies of the chocolate gene (bb.)
Pictured we have a young buck in show coat, a 3 week old, a 7 week old, a 12 week old, and a senior in a puppy clip (twice in a row.)
The genotype for chocolate tort is: aabbC_D_ee
It is like black tort, but with 2 copies of the chocolate gene (bb.)
Pictured we have a young buck in show coat, a 3 week old, a 7 week old, a 12 week old, and a senior in a puppy clip (twice in a row.)
Lilac Tort
The genotype for Lilac Tort is: aabbC_ddee
It is like chocolate tort, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene as well (dd.)
Pictured is a senior in show coat, courtesy of (Treasured Angoras), a 6 week old and a 3 day old.
The genotype for Lilac Tort is: aabbC_ddee
It is like chocolate tort, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene as well (dd.)
Pictured is a senior in show coat, courtesy of (Treasured Angoras), a 6 week old and a 3 day old.
Agouti
Chestnut
The genotype for Chestnut is: A_B_C_D_E
It is like black, but with the agouti gene (A.)
Pictured is a litter with 4 one week olds, a 5 week old, a 9 week old, and a 5 month old in show coat.
The genotype for Chestnut is: A_B_C_D_E
It is like black, but with the agouti gene (A.)
Pictured is a litter with 4 one week olds, a 5 week old, a 9 week old, and a 5 month old in show coat.
Opal
The genotype for Opal is: A_B_C_dd_E
It is like Chestnut, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene (dd.)
Pictured is a 1 week old, and a senior doe in a puppy clip.
The genotype for Opal is: A_B_C_dd_E
It is like Chestnut, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene (dd.)
Pictured is a 1 week old, and a senior doe in a puppy clip.
Chocoloate Agouti
The genotype for Chocolate Agouti is: A_bb_C_D_E
It is like chestnut, but with 2 copies of the chocolate gene (bb.)
Pictured is a Chocolate Agouti at 2.5 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and then 12 weeks.
*The rabbit pictured is high-rufus.
The genotype for Chocolate Agouti is: A_bb_C_D_E
It is like chestnut, but with 2 copies of the chocolate gene (bb.)
Pictured is a Chocolate Agouti at 2.5 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and then 12 weeks.
*The rabbit pictured is high-rufus.
Lynx
The genotype for Lynx is: A_bb_C_ddE_
It is like chocolate, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene (dd.)
The genotype for Lynx is: A_bb_C_ddE_
It is like chocolate, but with 2 copies of the dilute gene (dd.)