Definitions of Importance
Torted Tri:
Torted Tri’s refer to an animal that visually appears to be a Broken Tort with the addition of Black spots or barring. They have an unmistakable shading of Grayish Black or Sepia on the muzzle/ whisker bed, ears and often the same shading on any part of the Broken pattern along the
sides, rump, belly and feet. These rabbits carry an “ej” (Tri-gene) and an “e” (non-extension gene or Torting gene)in the E series. These rabbits do not meet the approved standard for Tri-Colors and should be DQ’d by judges… Do NOT get this confused with blurring of color between
Orange and Black in the butterfly/whisker bed on a Tri. Blurring of the colors often happens in Agouti-Based Tri’s and while it is a fault, it is NOT a DQ!
There has been some confusion over Torted Tri’s and what they actually are because of the other term used to describe them, which is Self Tri’s. This is an incorrect statement and I wish no one had ever spoken these words in reference to Torted Tri’s…
Torted Tri’s are NOT created in the A series they are created in the E series by the addition of the “e” (non-extension gene). Torted Tri’s can be either Tan-Based or Self-Based… If a rabbit is Agouti-Based and also carries “e” (non-extension) it is genetically a Torted Tri BUTthe Agouti gene in the A series eliminates the appearance of the “e” or Torting gene and you are left with (visibly) a showable Tri.
You can see the from the picture to the left that the Torting gene gives a shaded nose and ear but also gives the Orange body color a smudged or hazy look rather than a bright clean Orange that we strive for in Tri's. The picture to the right is a Self Based, "ejej" with clean color and correct color. This is a perfect example of the mis-conception that all Self-Based rabbits are torted!
This picture shows a Tri-Color at about 3-4 days and a Torted Tri-Color at the same age. You can clearly see in the outlined areas that at this young age there is already a significant difference. You can already see the gray haze/torting on the flank of the baby on the right... Where the baby on the left shows clear distinction of clean orange and black spots. The other area you can see this on is the ears. The Torted baby on the right has the appearance of a solid gray ear with slight black spotting but the correct Tri on the left once again has a clear distinction of Orange and Black.
Thank you to Icebox Rabbitry for the picture of the Torted Tri! I think this will help many people in identifying correct color!
Thank you to Icebox Rabbitry for the picture of the Torted Tri! I think this will help many people in identifying correct color!
Self-Based, Tan-Based, Agouti-Based:
These 3 terms relate to the A series genes of a Tri…
A = Agouti -
Dominant trait over “at”(Tan) and “a”(Self) –Rabbits with ring color are Agouti based ie… Castor, Opal, Amber, Lynx are Agouti
varieties…
at = Tan – Recessive to “A”(Agouti) but Dominant to “a”(Self) – Otter, Marten, Tan are all “at” varieties…
a = Self - Recessive to both “A”(Agouti) and “at”(Tan)… Meaning a Self bred to a Self can ONLY produce SELF. Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac are all Self varieties…
Self-Based Tri –
A rabbit that carries 2 Self genes in the A series, “aa” and“ejej” in the E series…
A rabbit that carries 2 Self genes in the A series, “aa” and“ejej” in the E series…
Tan-Based Tri -
A rabbit that carries 2 Tan genes in the A series, “atat”
OR
a Tan gene and a Self gene, “ata”and “ejej” in the E eries…
Agouti-Based Tri –
A rabbit that carries at least one Agouti gene in the A series, “AA” OR “Aat” OR “Aa”
and
“ejej” OR “eje”in the E series…
Harlie Otter /Otter Tri :
Harlie Otters are simply Otter’s that carry a single Tri gene (“ej”)… These rabbits are identified in a few different ways and can be easily distinguished by the presence of Harlequin barring on their bellies, the Triangle at the back of their neck, in the Otter lacing along the ear or in the Otter lacing around the eyes. In the Broken version (Otter Tri) of a Harlie Otter the animal will often have so much barring in the Otter lacing around the eyes that the eye ring is not even visible. Some animals will have very minimal barring in only one area and others will be so heavily Harlequinized that they almost lost the Otter pattern completely. The barring is also harder to see in a Recessive or Dilute color (Chocolate, Blue and Lilac) because the contrast is of color is not as rich as the Black variety. Be aware that the barring may only be visible in one of these areas or in all. This can also see be seen in Silver Martens…
Castor Tri/Harlie Castor:
These are Castor animals that carry a single Tri gene (“ej”)…Unlike the Otter Harlie or Otter Tri’s these rabbits will often have visible barring/spots within the body pattern as well as the lacing and belly.
Recessive and Dilute:
Recessive and Dilute are often used incorrectly to describe Chocolate, Blues and Lilac varieties and that is incorrect…
Recessive color is determined in the “B series” and it includes the Chocolate and Lilac varieties in the various coat patterns of rabbits… Chocolate, Amber, Lilac, Lynx, Chocolate Otter, Lilac Otter, Chocolate/Orange Tri, Lilac/Fawn Tri.
Dilute is determined in the “D series” and includes the Blue and includes the Blue and Lilac varieties in the various coat patterns of rabbits… Blue, Opal, Lilac, Lynx, Blue Otter, Lilac Otter, Blue/Fawn Tri, Lilac/Fawn Tri.
Lilac based varieties are the ONLY rabbits that are BOTH Recessive and Dilute!
Recessive –Chocolate based varieties… B series = bb, D series = Dd or DD
Dilute – Blue Based varieties… B series = Bb or BB, D series = dd
Lilac – Lilac is a Chocolate based variety that is ALSO Dilute. This means a Lilac based variety carries NO Dominant Traits in the B or D series… B series = bb, D series = dd