What coat colors do mice have? - briefly
Mice display a range of coat colors such as white, black, brown, gray, agouti (a banded brown‑gray pattern), and combinations that include spotted or mixed markings. Some laboratory strains are bred for specific uniform colors, while wild populations often show varied pigmentation.
What coat colors do mice have? - in detail
Mice display a broad spectrum of pelage pigments, determined by genetic loci that regulate melanin production, pigment distribution, and dilution. The most common natural coloration is a uniform brown or gray, often called “wild‑type,” which provides camouflage in natural habitats. Variants arise from mutations at several well‑characterized genes, producing distinct phenotypes used extensively in research.
- Black (Agouti‑dominant or non‑agouti) – dense eumelanin gives a solid, glossy black coat; common in laboratory strains such as C57BL/6.
- Brown (Agouti) – alternating bands of eumelanin and pheomelanin along each hair create a mottled brown appearance; typical of wild‑derived mice.
- Gray (Dilute) – reduced melanin intensity results in a silvery‑gray coat; seen in strains like BALB/c.
- White (Albino) – lack of melanin due to mutations in the tyrosinase gene produces an entirely white coat with pink eyes.
- Cream (Pale) – a partial dilution of brown pigment yields a light, cream‑colored coat; observed in certain outbred stocks.
- Chocolate – a recessive mutation reduces eumelanin, giving a deep brown coat distinct from standard agouti.
- Sable – intensified eumelanin concentrates at the dorsal surface, producing a dark, almost black back with lighter ventral fur.
- Himalayan – temperature‑sensitive pigment expression results in dark points (ears, tail, paws) on a white body; the same mutation underlies the “pointed” pattern in some cat breeds.
- Ruddy (Red) – increased pheomelanin creates a reddish or orange hue; less common but documented in specific laboratory lines.
Additional modifiers can alter hue intensity, pattern, or distribution. The D (dilution) allele lightens existing colors, while the A (agouti) allele controls banding on individual hairs. Spotting genes, such as S (piebald), produce patches of unpigmented fur. Hair length genes (e.g., hl) do not affect color directly but may influence visual perception of the coat.
In breeding programs, coat coloration is often selected for ease of visual identification, genetic background control, or to model human pigment disorders. Understanding the genetic basis of each pigment type enables precise manipulation of mouse phenotypes for experimental purposes.