Newborn Bunny Coat Color?

[Happy Hollands]

What color is this baby bunny? It appears to be a chestnut with harlequin markings on the belly. Is there a such thing as a harlequinized chestnut, or what could it be? I have never seen anything like this!



Background Info:
- Mom is a BEW (presumably harlequin) and Dad is a Orange / Black Harlequin Holland Lop
- Siblings are all harlequin variations (cream & orange)
- Neither parent carries chestnut, pretty much all harlequins in genetics (and a few tri's & torts)

I'm stumped! Help me out!

 

[SableSteel]

Looks like a harlequinized chestnut (as long as there is no otter in the lines; a baby harlequinized otter would look the same)

 

[Happy Hollands]

Thank you!! Neither parents carry otter variations. I can already see some brown ticking coming in...

Is this a well-known color? I must admit, I've never heard of it.

 

[SableSteel]

Yes. It happens sometimes when the chestnut carries the harlequin gene (so they are Eej). The fullextension (E) gene is only incomplete dominant over the harlequin, so sometimes (but not always), harlequin markings will show through. It is a DQ from shows.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Need to wait a little bit--I was gonna say Otter, maybe.

 

[Happy Hollands]

Interesting...

I've ruled out the possibility of black otter, based on genetics and ticking

My question is - where did the chestnut gene come from in the first place?? I thought I understood genetics, then this baby came along...

 

[Mariam+Theo]

I don't know what color it is, but it is adorable! It's little feet

 

[Happy Hollands]

I don't know what color it is, but it is adorable! It's little feet

Well thank you

 

[SableSteel]

Would have to come from the BEW. Apparently the BEW isn't harlequin based after all

 

[Happy Hollands]

What do you think her coloring could be then? I know there are a lot of possibilities considering there are quite a few blue-eyed whites in her pedigree, but I would like to narrow it down a bit.

Her Parents: BEW x BEW
Grandparents: Orange Black Tri VM x BEW (Dad's side) / BEW x Orange Black Harlequin VC (Mom's side)
Great Grandparents: Black Cream Harlequin x Broken Chocolate Chinchilla / BEW x Opal VM / BEW x Black VC / Golden Harlequin VC x Red

 

[SableSteel]

Most likely, I'd say she's probably a chestnut under the BEW as well (but likely carries harlequin). If she's thrown torts or oranges, she'd have to carry non-extension, instead of harlequin

 

[Happy Hollands]

Most likely, I'd say she's probably a chestnut under the BEW as well (but likely carries harlequin). If she's thrown torts or oranges, she'd have to carry non-extension, instead of harlequin

Interesting! This is actually her first litter, so I am very thankful it went smoothly for her. What other possibilities could her coloring be? I will be honest, I never thought she would be a chestnut based on her genetics...