Biology of the Laboratory Mouse

Figure 21-1. Coat colors of mice.

Yellow mouse Agouti mouse

A. Yellow ( A^y); phaeomelanin. B. Agouti (+/+); typical agouti banding.

Agouti chinchilla mouse Nonagouti mouse

C. Agouti chinchilla ( c^ch/ c^ch); note drastic reduction in phaeomelanin. D. Nonagouti ( a/ a); pigment principally eumelanin except for a few hairs around mammae, ears, and perineum.

Black-and-tan mouse Nonagouti brown mouse

E. Black-and-tan ( a^t/ a); note regional differences in pigmentation, i.e., ventrum tan (yellow), dorsum black. F. Nonagouti brown ( a/ a b/ b); pigment change from black to brown.

Nonagouti himalayan mouse Nonagouti pink-eyed dilution mouse

G. Nonagouti himalayan ( a/ a c^h/ c^h); thermolabile tyrosinase, pigmentation on extremities only. H. Nonagouti pink-eyed dilution ( a/ a p/ p); drastic reduction of eumelanin.


A. Yellow ( A^y); phaeomelanin.		B. Agouti (+/+); typical agouti banding.

C. Agouti chinchilla ( c^ch/ c^ch); note drastic reduction in phaeomelanin.		D. Nonagouti ( a/ a); pigment principally eumelanin except for a few hairs around mammae, ears, and perineum.

E. Black-and-tan ( a^t/ a); note regional differences in pigmentation, i.e., ventrum tan (yellow), dorsum black.		F. Nonagouti brown ( a/ a b/ b); pigment change from black to brown.

G. Nonagouti himalayan ( a/ a c^h/ c^h); thermolabile tyrosinase, pigmentation on extremities only.		H. Nonagouti pink-eyed dilution ( a/ a p/ p); drastic reduction of eumelanin.