Rabbit coat colors

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Rabbits come in a variety of different coat colors, and different breeds may have different names for the same coloration. Colors may also belong in different groups depending on the breed.

The following table seeks to give a general overview of possible rabbit coat colors and may not be exhaustive or accurately described in accordance to ARBA for show and breeding purposes. See Rabbit coat genetics for a detailed description on deciphering color genotypes.

Color Genotype Group Description
Agouti A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ Agouti Also known as castor and chestnut. Overall impression is a reddish sand color edged with white. Back is a slate undercolor with thin orange/yellow band and black tips. Belly is a slate undercolor with white top color . Ears laced black. Underjaw, eye circles, inside of ears, under-tail are white. Nape of neck and groin streaks orange. Brown eyes. Nails are dark horn or black.
Black aa B_ C_ D_ E_ Self Entire coat is a rich jet black extending well down the hair shaft. Undercolor is a dark slate blue. Brown eyes. Nails dark horn or black.
Black Otter atat B_ cchdcchd D_ E_ Tan Main body color is black with a white or pale cream belly. Underside of chin and tail should be pale cream. The dividing color between body and belly color should be orange. Nostrils and triangle at back of neck should be tan. Eye circles and inside of ears should be fawn. Brown eyes.
Black Tortoiseshell aa B_ C_ D_ ee Shaded
Blue aa B_ C_ dd E_ Self The dilute color family of black. Entire coat is a dark blue extending well down the hair shaft. Undercolor is a slate blue. Brown or blue-gray eyes. Nails are dark or light horn.
Blue-eyed White __ __ __ __ __ vv Self Solid white coat color over entire body. Bright blue eyes. Nails pink.
Chinchilla A_ B_ cchdcchd D_ E_ Agouti Overall impression is a sparkling silvery-gray edged with white. Back is a slate undercolor with a pearly white band and black tips. Belly is a slate undercolor with a white top color . Ears are laced black. Underjaw, eye circles, inside of ears, and under-tail are white. Blue, blue-gray, or brown eyes. Nails dark horn or black.
Chocolate aa bb C_ D_ E_ Self Entire coat is a rich, chocolaty brown extending well down the hair shaft. Color similar to bittersweet chocolate. Undercolor is a dove-gray or light slate. Brown eyes showing ruby-red pupil in low-light. Nails are dark or light horn.
Chocolate Chinchilla A_ bb cchdcchd D_ E_ Agouti
Chocolate Sable aa bb cchl_ D_ E_ Shaded
Cinnamon A_ bb C_ D_ E_ Agouti Also known as chocolate chestnut or chocolate agouti.
Cream A_ B_ C_ dd ee Agouti
Fawn A_ B_ C_ dd ee (Hollands)
A_ bb C_ dd ee
Agouti The dilute color family of orange. Back is rich golden-straw color with a pale-cream undercolor. Belly surface color, undercolor, and underside should be light cream to white. Brown eyes.
Frosty A_ B_ cchd_ D_ ee Agouti Also known as ermine, frost point, or frosted pearl.
Himalayan aa B_ ch_ D_ E_ Self
Japanese Black A_ B_ C_ D_ eje enen Harlequin Dense black and golden orange color. Brown eyes. Nails can be light or dark.
Japanese Blue A_ B_ C_ dd eje enen Harlequin Lavender blue and golden fawn color. Brown or blue-gray eyes. Nails can be light or dark.
Japanese Chocolate A_ bb C_ D_ eje enen Harlequin Dark chocolate and golden orange color. Brown eyes with a ruby cast. Nails can be light or dark.
Japanese Lilac A_ bb C_ dd eje enen Harlequin Body is golden fawn and dove gray with a heavy pink surface tint. Blue-gray eyes with a ruby cast. Nails can be light or dark.
Light Gray A_ B_ cchdcchd D_ E_ ww Agouti Body is a uniform light gray with ticking of black-tipped guard hairs and slate-blue undercolor with off-white intermediate band. Belly is white with slate blue undercolor. Undertail should match belly. Brown eyes.
Lilac aa bb C_ dd E_ Self The dilute color family of chocolate. Entire coat is a dove-gray with a pinkish tint extending well down the hair shaft. Undercolor is a light dove-gray. Blue-gray eyes. Nails light horn.
Lynx A_ bb C_ dd E_ Agouti Also known as lilac agouti. The dilute color family of cinnamon.
Magpie Black A_ B_ cchd_ D_ eje enen Harlequin Dense black and white color. Brown or blue-gray eyes. Nails can be white or dark.
Magpie Blue A_ B_ cchd_ dd_ eje enen Harlequin Lavender blue and white color. Blue or blue-gray eyes. Nails can be white or dark.
Magpie Chocolate A_ bb cchd_ D_ eje enen Harlequin Dark chocolate and white color. Brown or blue-gray eyes with a ruby cast. Nails can be white or dark.
Magpie Lilac A_ bb cchd_ dd eje enen Harlequin Body is white and dove gray with a heavy pink surface tint. Brown or blue-gray eyes with a ruby cast. Nails can be white or dark.
Opal A_ B_ C_ dd E_ Agouti Also known as blue agouti. The dilute color family of chestnut. Overall impression is a gray dusted fawn color edged with white. Back is a slate undercolor with thin fawn band (or wide fawn band) and blue tips. Belly is a slate undercolor with white top color . Ears laced blue. Underjaw, eye circles, inside of ears, under-tail are white. Nape of neck and groin streaks yellow-orange. Blue-gray or brown eyes. Nails dark or light horn. Opal is a dilute chestnut agouti.
Orange A_ B_ C_ D_ ee + rufus modifiers Agouti Also known as orange agouti.
Red A_ B_ C_ D_ ee ww Wide band
Ruby-eyed White __ __ cc __ __ Self Pure white coat color over entire body, right down to the skin. Bright blood red eyes. Nails white or flesh-colored. Dominant over BEW.
Sable Marten at_ B_ cchl_ D_ E_ Tan Body has a sepia saddle extending from neck nape to tail. Paler sepia color on flanks and chest. Face, outside of ears, front of the foreleg, outside of the hind feet, and upper side of tail should match saddle color. Undercolor should match surface color. Nostrils, inside of ear, triangle, chest, eye circles, jowls, belly, inside of front and rear legs, and under-tail are white. Evenly distributed white tipped guard hairs on sides, flanks, and rump. Brown eyes.
Sable Point aa B_ cchl_ D_ ee Shaded Nose, ears, feet and tail are a rich sepia brown. Colored points are to fade to a rich creamy body surface color. Creamy white undercolor. Dark shading around the eyes is allowed. Brown eyes.
Sandy A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ ww Agouti Body is a reddish sandy with dark ticking and slate blue intermediate color with brassy reddish intermediate band. Ears are laced with black. Belly and under-tail are cream to white. Brown eyes.
Seal aa B_ cchlcchl D_ E_ Shaded
Self Chinchilla aa B_ cchd_ D_ E_ Self
Siamese Sable aa B_ cchl_ D_ E_ Shaded Also known as black sable. Surface color of the head, ears, back, outside of legs, and top of the tail is a rich sepia brown. The sides chest, belly inside of legs, and under the tail is to fade to a lighter sepia color. The dark face color is to be gradual and free from blotches and streaks from the eyes to the jaws. Slightly lighter that surface color undercolor. Brown eyes.
Smoke Pearl aa B_ cchl_ dd E_ Shaded Also known as blue sable. The dilue color family of siamese sable.
Squirrel A_ B_ cchd_ dd E_ Agouti Also known as blue chinchilla. The dilute color family of chinchilla.
Steel Gray A_ B_ C_ cchdcchd D_ ESE Steel Body is a black steel gray with moderate even ticking of light gray guard hairs and slate-blue undercolor. Belly and under-tail is white with slate-blue undercolor. Brown eyes.

Further reading

The following are some miscellaneous color guides from various rabbitries:

See also