COLORS

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White

White cannot be obtained in the homozygous state because two of the dominant genes are lethal when they occur in the same animal. Depending on the color that these animals are bred with, different patterns will show themselves in the offspring. In the silvering pattern, there is a very short, dark tip on the end of many of the fur fibers and there is blue underfur instead of white underfur.

In a show, white chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Predominantly white
2. White with dark guard hairs
3. White with pink/beige markings
4. White mosaic/ broken pattern
5. Silver (has color in underfur and a bar)

Sapphire

A recessive mutation that has a crystal clear blue veiling, a white bar and a soft light blue underfur. It has pink ears and a light colored tail.

In a show, sapphire chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
5. Wrap

Violet

A beautiful lavender or lavender/violet color with nice even veiling, good clear white belly, nice texture and good overall appearance. It has beautiful lavender type underfur and a pale lavender bar.

In a show, violet chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
5. Wrap

Beige

This mutation is a complete dominant with no lethal factor and a homozygous animal can occur. The homozygous animal has a much lighter and finer type of fur than the heterozygous beige. Its eyes can vary from a very pale pink to a ruby color. Generally, the darker heterozygous beige has the darker eyes and the homozygous animal has the lighter eyes.

In a show, beige chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark
5. Extra Dark (usually Beige/Black cross)
6. Wraps (Tans)

Naturalle

In chinchillas, the standard color is a pearl-blue-gray in six different color variations ranging from light/medium to extra dark. This animal is sometimes known as a standard. The standard has an agouti-fur pattern meaning that it has a tip, bar and underfur. All agouti-patterned animals are lighter colored on their under parts.

In a show, naturalle chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light/Medium
2. Medium
3. Dark/Medium
4. Medium/Dark
5. Dark
6. Extra Dark

Charcoal/Ebony

Ebonies can range from “every hair shiny black” to an animal that looks almost like a standard. Ebonies have gray or black bellies and no bar.

In a show, ebony chinchillas are divided into the following categories.
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark

Black

This peculiar type of dominant has a black “cape” extending over the head, neck and back of the animal. The sides are gray. The animal has a very bright appearance and a clear white belly.

In a show black chinchillas are divided into the following categories:
1. Light
2. Medium
3. Dark
4. Extra Dark

NOTE: Maintaining accurate records is important because a recessive gene may be carried for generations without expressing itself until such time as it is matched with a mate carrying the same gene. If a recessive is mated to a standard, it will produce all standard offspring; those offspring will carry the recessive gene. If that standard that is a carrier for recessive is mated to a recessive, they will produce on an average 50% recessive and 50% standard carrier offspring. If two recessives are mated together, they will produce 100% of that mutation. By using this method, improvements in size or fur qualities may be done.

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Article By : mutationchinchillas.com