What is the name of the rat breed with red eyes? - briefly
Albino rats are the variety that displays red eyes, due to the absence of pigment in the iris. They typically have white fur and pinkish skin.
What is the name of the rat breed with red eyes? - in detail
The rat variety distinguished by reddish irises is the albino laboratory rat, commonly referred to as the Red‑Eyed White (REW) rat.
Albino rats lack pigment in skin, fur, and eyes, resulting in white coats and pink or reddish eye coloration. The red hue originates from the visible blood vessels behind the unpigmented retina. Genetic analysis shows that the albino phenotype is caused by a recessive mutation in the Tyrosinase gene (Tyrc), which halts melanin synthesis. Breeding two heterozygous carriers (Tyrc/+) yields a 25 % probability of producing a homozygous albino offspring (Tyrc/Tyrc) that displays the red‑eyed phenotype.
Key characteristics of the REW rat include:
- Appearance: pure white fur, pink nose, and red eyes lacking melanin.
- Size: comparable to other Rattus norvegicus strains; adult body length 20–25 cm, weight 250–500 g.
- Behavior: typical of Norway rats; active, nocturnal, and social, with no visual impairment despite the lack of pigmentation.
- Research use: preferred in biomedical studies where pigmentation could interfere with visual assessments, fluorescence imaging, or ocular investigations.
- Care requirements: standard rodent husbandry; temperature 20–24 °C, humidity 40–60 %, enriched cage environment, balanced diet, and regular health monitoring.
The term “Red‑Eyed White rat” is the precise designation used in scientific literature and commercial breeding programs to differentiate this albino strain from pigmented varieties.