Fox Color Genetics
Explore the genetic diversity of foxes, from subspecies variations to coat color traits, and see how their DNA compares to other canids. A brief review of the genes controlling fox coat colors and patterns. All of this research has been conducted in the labs of others.
Our lab studies coat color ONLY in dogs and cattle. Many of the photos here are taken from the web. These are not photos of foxes actually DNA tested for the coat color they illustrate, contrary to my dog and cattle webpages.
Black Fox Information
This is not ideal, but since I do not. The farm breeding of red foxes began in Eastern Canada in the late 19th century. 1 Through fox farm breeding, several new coat color variants have been identified, with the Georgian white (GW) morph first being described at Bakuriany farm in Georgia in 1943.
2, 3 GW foxes are produced by breeding GW and standard silver foxes and are. There are 23 fox species, each with different colors. Some foxes, such as red and arctic foxes, change color depending on the season.
Fox color chart Redux by Krissyfawx on DeviantArt | Fox species, Fox ...
Other foxes, such as Fennec foxes, keep their color throughout the year. Some foxes get unusual colors from mutations. Most people think of foxes as red or white.
But foxes have many more colors than that. There are 23 fox species, each having its own range of. Silver Fox Unlike the classic reddish-brown coat, individuals with the silver-phase variation of the red fox exhibit a striking silver or grayish coloration in their fur.
Red Fox Color Chart by CJCNightFox on DeviantArt
This unique trait results from genetic factors influencing pigmentation, specifically, the expression of some genes associated with coat color in silver foxes. Since the amount of red color and spine stripe clearness are subject to strong variation, we do not yet understand the genetic control of the black or red color in the fox. Many other colors have been established through years of breeding and selection.
Originally the mutant alleles were largely confined to the silver fox. Colors of foxes vary depending on the type of fox and the time of year. Some foxes change colors with the seasons, others have different color morphs.
For increased knowledge on the adaptive importance of variation in fur coloration, we assessed the genetic architecture of fur coloration and analysed fitness consequences of genetic variation related to this trait in a wild population of Arctic foxes. Fox fur colouration is under genetic control and, although many of the specifics of how the colours are inherited are still uncertain, it does seem that there are at least two genes at work on different parts of the animal's chromosomes (see the QA on squirrel coat colour for an introduction). There are four main colour phases (or "morphs") found in wild populations: Red; Silver; Cross; and White.
RED FOX The red fox, the most common color morph of Vulpes vulpes, is known for its striking coat. At birth, red foxes typically appear black or dark brown, gradually developing their signature reddish hues by the time they are 2 to 3 months old. Their fur can range from a pale, yellowish-orange to a deep, rich orange.
Distinctive black markings often appear on the backs of their ears and on.
