Unusual coloration. Unusual animal colors. This horse also has a cute feature

There are two basic colors of cats - the black and red(ginger). Both colors are formed due to the action of a special pigment, melanin. There are two types of melanin: one of them is responsible for the black color and is called eumelanin, and the other is responsible for the red color and is called pheomelanin.

Black colors determined by the following genes:
B(black) - black,
b(brown) - brown,
bl(brown light) - light brown.

Chromosomes are paired, so cats have two genes of each type. Pair BB defines black. Similarly: bb- chocolate color blbl- cinnamon or sorrel. Gene B"stronger" genes b and bl That's why it's called dominant. A gene b, in turn, is stronger than the gene bl. Therefore, if a cat from one parent received a dominant gene B, and from the other - a recessive gene b, then its color will be black.

Dominant gene is responsible for color saturation D(dense) and its recessive "companion" d(diluted). These genes work as follows: BBDD- black cat, BBdd- gray (blue). Since the gene D dominant over d, then the cat BBDd will be black.

FROM red colors everything is similar to some extent. There is a dominant gene O(orange) and recessive about.
OO- ginger cat,
oo- black cat,
Oo- a tortoiseshell cat, i.е. black with red spots.

Combined with genes D and d: OODD- bright red (red) cat, OOdd- cream cat

About the red (red) color they say that this is a color, floor-linked. Genes O and about located only on X chromosome. Cats have two X chromosomes: XX, and cats have one X and one Y chromosome: XY. Cats, therefore, have only one red color gene and can only be black (X o Y_) or red (X O Y_). Tortoiseshell cats are extremely rare - they have not two chromosomes, but three: XXY. These cats are infertile.

Tabby colors

Ticked wool can form three types of patterns:

• brindle or striped tabby ( mackerel tabby),
• marbled tabby ( classic tabby, blotched tabby),
• spotted tabby ( spotted tabby).

Gene T defines a striped pattern, gene Tb- marble. As to which gene is responsible for the spotted tabby pattern, scientists have not come to a consensus. It has been suggested that the spotted pattern is determined by the same gene T, which is striped, but the fact that the stripes are "broken" is the result of the influence of polygenes. There is also a 4th tabby color option: the so-called tabby without stripes. It is found only in Abyssinian and British cats.

Striped tabby:	Marble tabby:	Spotted tabby:

Red (red) and cream cats ALWAYS have a tabby pattern. In cream cats, it is barely distinguishable.

Tabby color can be combined with tortie:

white spotting

The presence of white spots determines the gene for white spotting, or possibly a group of genes. The amount of white in color can vary:

• Van: almost white cat; only the tail is colored and there are colored markings on the head.
• Harlequin: painted about 1/5 of the total surface of the cat's body. Separate large spots are located on the back, head and sides. The tail is fully colored.
• Bicolor: about half of the entire body surface is painted.
• marquis: very little white: there are white "gloves" and "slippers" on the paws, a white medallion on the chest.

Painted spots can be any color: solid tan or black, tabby patterns, tortoiseshell, etc.

white cats

The white color of a cat is most often determined by the presence of a dominant gene. W. This gene blocks the work of other, "colored" genes ( AT, T, BUT, O etc.). However, these genes are present in any white cat and can be expressed in offspring. They are also manifested by the presence of small colored spots on the head of white kittens. By the year, these spots disappear.

For example, a cat Bb Dd TT aa Ww will be white, and if instead of her gene W would be his recessive "companion" w(i.e. not www, a www), she would be solid black (the presence of merle genes T in this case, it does not affect the color due to the fact that the agouti gene is represented by a recessive allele a).

The white color gene also affects eye pigmentation and can cause hearing loss. According to another version, this gene does not itself cause deafness, but is linked to the genes that cause it.

White color can also give the presence of the albinism gene. Albinos are extremely rare. Albino cats have light blue or red eyes.

Color point colors

A color point cat has a light body and colored points (from the English. point- extremity, tip). The points include the ends of the paws, ears, tail, tip of the muzzle. The gene responsible for the color-point color blocks the action of other genes only partially: these genes manifest themselves in the color of the points. The color of the points can be any - classic black (seal point), blue, red, cream. Points may have a tabby pattern. If the white spotting gene is present, a color-pointed cat may have white spots.

The gene responsible for the color-point color also gives blue eyes.

There are two basic colors of a cat: black and red. The rest of the colors are a mixture of genes responsible for melanin, a special pigment that forms different shades of colors.

All coat colors of domestic cats stem from only a few basic colors, which, when mixed, produce different shades. Most colors are found in both outbred and purebred animals, however, the selective work of breeders has led to the fact that certain types of them can appear only in cats of a certain breed. At the moment, the concept of color covers the color of the animal's coat, various degrees of coloration, as well as the pattern on the coat.

White

It is believed that white cats bring happiness to the house. Wool of this color is found in representatives of different breeds. Snow-white Persian cats are highly valued, especially blue-eyed ones. It is extremely rare to find white cats with multi-colored eyes.

Among pets of white color there are owners of blue eyes - sometimes this is a sign of poor hearing or even deafness.

Gray (blue)

According to the legends, a silver-haired cat is the best protector from trouble. She guards the house and brings happiness. Among the silver colors, the most common is smoky, in which the hairs at the roots are painted white, and closer to the tips - gray. The most famous representatives of the gray color are British cats with green and orange eyes.

tortoise color

Pets with a similar color coat have a combination of random spots of red and black tones throughout the body.

Black

Mysticism and superstition have surrounded cats of this color since ancient times. No matter how they were called: accomplices of Satan, talismans of magicians and witches. Some people still believe in the omen of a black cat running across the road and promising an unlucky day. In Scotland, on the contrary, black pets are respected, believing that they attract wealth. It is widely believed that black pets can heal diseases and bring peace to the family.

Bicolor

Officially, the two-color color (bicolor) was recognized quite recently, before that such cats were considered as defective. It is believed that such pets have a friendly character. Two colors in color is often found in cats of Persian and British breeds. Breeders are happy to breed Angora and Siberian cats - the variety of their colors allows you to get kittens of the most unusual colors.

Ginger

Since ancient times, red cats have been considered healers and protectors. The "solar" beast, according to legend, brings wealth, fun and joy to its owners. Cats with a red color are considered very cunning. Red-haired robbers do not let their owners get bored, they are constantly naughty. However, they are very affectionate.

Tricolor

Tricolor cats are believed to bring good luck. White pets with red and black spots are especially popular. In Japan, a figurine of a tricolor cat with a vertically raised paw is placed at the entrance to the house: then it will bring wealth and prosperity to the owners. It is surprising that among animals marked with a similar color, there are almost no males.

Drawing on the fur of cats and cats

In cats of red and cream colors, there is always a pattern on the coat.

A variety of coat patterns allows you to get kittens with individual color characteristics. In order to get the desired color with the maximum probability, breeders study genetics and, based on new knowledge, look for parents for future offspring. Ordinary pet owners rarely think about the need for selection.

Tabby (striped cats)

Tabby - the most common color of cats, this word also means the presence of a pattern on the coat - stripes or spots. Breeding such pets is difficult - the result can be very unexpected.

Monochromatic (solids) and smoky cats

If the cat is completely one-colored, such a color is called solid. These cats almost never have a pattern on their coat.

If the cat is black or blue, but the roots of the hair are distinctly white - smoke (from the English "smoke"). The hair roots of monochromatic cats are usually greyish, while the true "smoke" has distinct white roots, the color is retained only on the upper part of the hair.

White markings

Cats of any color can have distinct white markings. The name of the color depends on their size and position..

Tortoiseshell cat color

Cats with a similar coat color have a combination of random spots of red and black tones throughout the body.

color point

For cats of this color, darker than the main color, areas at the end of the muzzle, tips of the ears, paws, and tail are characteristic.

Cats of this color are born completely white and gradually darken. The older the animal, the darker the spots.

Colors accepted by the International Cat Federation (FIFe)

Color drawings accepted by the International Cat Federation (FIFe)

Just like people, animals are born with a variety of appearances, the rapidly changing world affects them and sometimes leads to interesting mutations. However, the likelihood that a dog will grow wings is extremely small, and most often the changes are manifested in the appearance of amazing colors.

We want to bring to your attention amazing and unique animals. These are creatures that nature has turned into works of art.

2. Fighting fish cockerel with the "marbling" gene, which causes a constant change in color throughout the life of a cockerel.

3. This parrot has xanthism, which means an excessive amount of yellow pigment in the plumage.

4. This parrot is an example of chimerism. In the animal kingdom, a chimera is an organism consisting of genetically heterogeneous cells.

5. Another example of a chimera is a two-color Labrador Retriever.

6. It's not every day you see a silver python.

7. You might think that this turtle is albino, but in reality it has piebaldism: some parts of its body have color, some do not.

8. This peacock also has partial albinism.

9. An almost white peacock, in which only the neck is framed by a blue "collar".

10. Two lionesses of different colors are photographed here: on the left is normal, on the right with leucism, that is, the absence of color pigment.

11. The opposite of leucism is melanism (an excess of dark pigment). The owl in the background has the usual color for this species, in the foreground there is an individual with melnism.

12. This is how melanism manifests itself in zebras.

13. Melanistic proteins are also found in nature.

14. Completely black melanistic penguins.

15. This amazing dog has vitliligo disease, which causes a pigmentation disorder, expressed in the disappearance of melanin pigment in certain areas of the skin.

16. The unusual color of this dog is also the result of this disease.

17. This zebra will not get lost in the crowd.

18. This rare species of cheetah has small spots on its back.

19. Spots are so miniature that they look more like freckles.

20. On the left - the usual color, on the right - very rare with stripes and spots.

21. In the wild, cheetahs with a similar mutation have only been seen five times since 1920, and the first time they were filmed in 1974.

22. This leopard also has an amazing atypical coloration.

23. Dunbar's Gold is an unusual pinto equine color.

24. This horse also has a cute feature.

25. Cute deer with partial albinism.

26. Elk with an unusual color.

27. Python with piebaldism.

28. Marble raven, also partially without pigment in feathers.

29. Semi-albino dolphins, also referred to as "panda dolphins."

30. Striking pink grasshopper with erythism.

Erythism is a violation of the pigmentation of the outer integument (skin, wool, feathers, scales, eggshells) in any type of organism in favor of a red, orange or pinkish color. This can be caused either by an excess of red pigment or a lack of black due to genetic mutations.

31. In Africa, a pink hippopotamus lives in the national reserve in the Mara River.

32. Blue lobsters are very rare, at a ratio of one in 2 million individuals.

Such an unusual color is caused by genetic variability, when the body of an animal produces a certain type of protein in excessive quantities.