Odd markings on 'black' kit

[Tbgb1912]

For the first couple of weeks I was like 'he's just black' but now he is getting active and the wee kit is showing some markings that I don't know what then classes him as.

He's got whiter hairs around his nose, lining his ears, and weird blotches on the tops of his back feet (hard to photograph, so hopefully you see it)

Litter mates are blue steel, black agouti, blue agouti. Same parents have thrown magpie harlequin and frosty. Buck is a blue agouti chinchilla and doe is either a seal or Siamese sable carrying steel.

I thought maybe he was agouti, but around his eyes aren't lighter and his coat isn't speckled or tipped like agouti. :shrug:

 

[Zass]

Probably a harlequinized silver tipped steel. The harli gene is recessive to full color or steel, but will usually still create base-color blotches or brindling that can obscure markings.

 

[Tbgb1912]

Probably a harlequinized silver tipped steel. The harli gene is recessive to full color or steel, but will usually still create base-color blotches or brindling that can obscure markings.

Harli markings even though the odd marks are on both sides? When I blow into his coat it isn't tipped, just the markings I've explained

 

[EnglishSpot]

Could there be Vienna markings hiding in there??

 

[Zass]

Probably a harlequinized silver tipped steel. The harli gene is recessive to full color or steel, but will usually still create base-color blotches or brindling that can obscure markings.

Harli markings even though the odd marks are on both sides? When I blow into his coat it isn't tipped, just the markings I've explained

The markings on the face looked kind of lopsided in the pic, which was what made me suspect the harli brindling.
He'll probably get more silvering as he ages. I've had rabbits look all black and take 8-12 weeks to show me any steeling.

__________ Thu Jul 16, 2015 10:33 pm __________
Englishspot,
white marks like vienna, dutch, si silvering, and broken show up over top of any coat color that isn't white.
(note, those colors do not include steel silvering or magpie white, which is different)
So anyway, harli or steel wouldn't obscure such white marks..

That's why they have steel dutch, vienna marked steels, tri colors(broken), and I've actually had silvered gold tipped steels before.

The only thing that really hides those kinds of genetic white marks is more white. But, I have heard that dutch or vienna may just not show up...it's not from being covered by something else.

 

[Tbgb1912]

I'll keep an eye out for tipping then he looks quite seal, in some lights

 

[Zass]

Harli markings even though the odd marks are on both sides? When I blow into his coat it isn't tipped, just the markings I've explained

I think I might have confused you. (I just caught it)

I wasn't saying the marking were caused by harlequin.
I'm pretty sure those are agouti(chinchilla) marks on the feet. The tops of the feet are always one of the first places I look for steel ticking to come in.

Harlequin paired with steel or full color just makes more of whatever the genetic base color happens to be, so for example, if the rabbit you posted rabbit had Esej the harlequin gene would just produce more black smut, which can obscure portions of a rabbit's agouti marks or steel ticking.

As to the seal fur look, it was never uncommon for my steels to look "off black." Does the kit have a red eye cast?

__________ Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:45 am __________

Oh, and here is one of my lilac gold tipped steel's feet so you can see what I'm taking about.

 

[Tbgb1912]

Harli markings even though the odd marks are on both sides? When I blow into his coat it isn't tipped, just the markings I've explained

I think I might have confused you. (I just caught it)

I wasn't saying the marking were caused by harlequin.
I'm pretty sure those are agouti(chinchilla) marks on the feet. The tops of the feet are always one of the first places I look for steel ticking to come in.

Harlequin paired with steel or full color just makes more of whatever the genetic base color happens to be, so for example, if the rabbit you posted rabbit had Esej the harlequin gene would just produce more black smut, which can obscure portions of a rabbit's agouti marks or steel ticking.

As to the seal fur look, it was never uncommon for my steels to look "off black." Does the kit have a red eye cast?

__________ Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:45 am __________

Oh, and here is one of my lilac gold tipped steel's feet so you can see what I'm taking about.

Ah, I see.
I haven't taken a photo of the wee fella with a flash on, but without his eyes are a blue/grey.