Bunny Translator #3: Color

We are now on article three of the language translator series.  We've covered terms for dwarf breeds, terms for holland lop form and now we will focus on terms for coat colors.  These will apply to a much wider range of rabbits than just hollands.  Knowing these terms will help you describe the color genetics of the rabbit you are looking for, when talking with a breeder.

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Pointed:  This is when a rabbit has a darker fur color on its "points" - feet, nose, and ears.

Ticking:  This refers to white, black, silver, or gold on the tips or entire hair shaft of some of the coat hair.  This is seen in agouti colors, martens, steels and otters.

Broken:  When the color on the rabbit's coat is broken up and separated by white areas.

Tri-Color:  When a rabbit's coat has three distinct colors in a broken pattern

Agouti:  Used to describe a color grouping that includes both ticking, and white on the belly, nostrils, and underside of the tail.

Tan Pattern:  Used to describe the coats of otters or martens that have tan or white around the eyes, under the chin, underside of the tail, the belly, nostrils and inside ears.

Self:  Used to describe a rabbit with a coat entirely of one color

Dilute:  Used to describe coats in the following shades:  blue, lilac, and fawn

Harlequin:  Used to describe a rabbit that has a coat of two distinct colors - ideally  in perfect symmetry down the middle of the rabbit.