Rabbit Color Genetics Calculator

Predict the coat colors of rabbit offspring using the 5-locus genetics system. Enter the genotype of each parent across all five gene loci (A, B, C, D, E), and this calculator will show you the probability of every possible offspring phenotype with color swatches, Punnett squares, and detailed breakdowns.

Rabbit Offspring Color Predictor

Select alleles for both parents across all 5 gene loci

Parent 1 (Sire/Dam)

Quick Preset Phenotype

Parent 2 (Dam/Sire)

Quick Preset Phenotype

Predicted Offspring Colors

View Punnett Squares for Each Locus

How to Use This Calculator

This rabbit color genetics calculator helps breeders, hobbyists, and genetics enthusiasts predict the coat colors of rabbit offspring based on the parents' genotypes. Follow these steps to get accurate predictions:

Select a preset (optional): If you know the phenotype (visible color) of each parent, choose it from the "Quick Preset Phenotype" dropdown. This will automatically fill in all five gene loci with the homozygous genotype for that color. Note that many rabbits carry hidden (recessive) alleles, so you may need to adjust individual loci after selecting a preset.
Set alleles for each locus: For each parent, you will see five collapsible gene sections (A, B, C, D, E). Each locus has two allele selectors, representing the two copies of that gene the rabbit carries. Select the appropriate allele from each dropdown.
Adjust for known carriers: If you know a rabbit carries a recessive allele (for example, a Black rabbit that carries chocolate), change the second allele of the relevant locus to the recessive form. For instance, change the B locus from B/B to B/b.
Click "Calculate Offspring Colors": The calculator will perform Punnett square crosses for all five loci independently, then combine the results to determine every possible phenotype and its probability.
Review the results: The output includes color-coded summary cards, a detailed probability table sorted from most likely to least likely, and expandable Punnett square grids for each locus.

Tip: If one or both parents have an unknown genotype at a particular locus, select the dominant allele for both slots. This gives a "best case" prediction. You can then re-run the calculator with recessive carriers to see how results change.

What Color Are Rabbits?

Domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) display an astonishing range of coat colors and patterns. From the familiar wild-type agouti brown of cottontail rabbits to the pure white of a Red-Eyed White (REW), and from deep jet black to soft dove gray, the variety is remarkable. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizes dozens of distinct color varieties across its breed standards, and many more exist in practice.

This diversity comes from just two pigments: eumelanin (black/brown pigment) and phaeomelanin (yellow/red pigment). Every rabbit color you see is the result of varying the production, distribution, and dilution of these two pigments, all controlled by a relatively small number of genes.

Some of the most common rabbit colors include:

Black: A deep, glossy black extending to the skin, with dark brown undercolor.
Blue: A medium blue-gray, which is the dilute form of black.
Chocolate: A rich dark brown, caused by a modification of eumelanin.
Lilac: A pale pinkish-gray dove color, the dilute form of chocolate.
Castor (Chestnut Agouti): The wild-type color with banded hair shafts showing rings of color.
Chinchilla: Similar to agouti but with the yellow pigment removed, giving a silver-gray appearance.
Orange/Fawn: A bright orange to cream color where eumelanin is largely absent from the coat.
Red-Eyed White (REW): Completely white with red/pink eyes due to total absence of pigment.
Himalayan/Pointed White: White body with colored points (nose, ears, feet, tail) and red eyes on the body.
Sable: A sepia-toned color that is darkest on the extremities and lighter on the body.

Rabbit Color Genetics Basics

Understanding rabbit color genetics requires familiarity with a few key concepts:

Genes, Alleles, and Loci

A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait. Each gene occupies a specific position on a chromosome called a locus (plural: loci). Because rabbits are diploid organisms (they have two copies of each chromosome), they carry two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent. These two copies are called alleles.

When both alleles at a locus are the same, the rabbit is homozygous at that locus (e.g., BB or bb). When the two alleles differ, the rabbit is heterozygous (e.g., Bb).

Dominance and Recessiveness

When a rabbit is heterozygous, the dominant allele determines the visible trait (phenotype), while the recessive allele is hidden. The recessive allele is still present in the genotype and can be passed to offspring. In rabbit genetics notation, dominant alleles are written with uppercase letters and recessive alleles with lowercase.

Some loci have more than two alleles in the population (though each individual still carries only two). When this occurs, there is a dominance hierarchy. For example, at the C locus, there are five alleles: C > c^chd > c^chl > c^h > c. Each allele is dominant over those below it in the hierarchy.

Genotype vs. Phenotype

The genotype is the genetic makeup, the actual alleles present. The phenotype is the visible physical expression. Two rabbits can look the same (same phenotype) but have different genotypes. For example, a Black rabbit could be aa BB CC DD EE or aa Bb CC DD EE. Both look black, but the second one carries a hidden chocolate gene.

Independent Assortment

The five color loci in rabbits are on different chromosomes and assort independently during reproduction. This means the inheritance of one locus does not affect the inheritance of another. We can analyze each locus separately and then multiply the probabilities together to get the overall offspring probabilities.

The 5 Color Gene Loci Explained

Rabbit coat color is determined by five major gene loci, commonly referred to by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. Understanding each locus and its alleles is essential for predicting offspring colors.

A Locus (Agouti)

The Agouti locus controls the pattern of pigment distribution in the hair shaft. Wild rabbits have banded hairs (each hair has alternating rings of dark and light pigment), a pattern called agouti. This creates the familiar brown wild-rabbit appearance.

Alleles (dominance order):

A (Agouti) - Dominant. Produces the wild-type banded hair pattern. The rabbit has lighter belly, eye circles, inside of ears, and triangle at the nape of the neck.
a^t (Tan pattern) - Intermediate. Produces a self-colored (solid) topcoat with tan/light markings on the belly, under the chin, inside the ears, around the nostrils, eye circles, and underside of the tail. Breeds like the Tan and Silver Marten display this pattern.
a (Self) - Recessive. Produces a solid, uniform color over the entire body with no banding or tan markings. This is the most recessive allele and gives breeds their solid-colored appearances.

Dominance hierarchy: A > a^t > a. A rabbit with genotype Aa will show agouti pattern. A rabbit with a^ta will show tan pattern. Only aa produces a self (solid) colored rabbit.

B Locus (Brown)

The B locus controls the type of eumelanin (dark pigment) produced. It determines whether the base dark color is black or chocolate (brown).

Alleles:

B (Black) - Dominant. Eumelanin appears as black pigment.
b (Chocolate/Brown) - Recessive. Eumelanin appears as chocolate brown. The rabbit must be homozygous (bb) for this allele to show.

When combined with the D locus, the four base combinations are: Black (B_D_), Chocolate (bbD_), Blue (B_dd), and Lilac (bbdd).

C Locus (Color/Full Color)

The C locus is the most complex, with five alleles that control the intensity and distribution of color. It is sometimes called the "color series" and has a significant impact on the final appearance.

Alleles (dominance order):

C (Full color) - Dominant. Allows full expression of whatever colors are determined by the other loci. No color modification.
c^chd (Chinchilla) - Removes most yellow/red (phaeomelanin) pigment from the coat. Agouti areas that would normally be orange/tan become white or pearl, giving the classic chinchilla silver appearance. On self rabbits, it produces a slightly lighter shade.
c^chl (Sable/Shaded) - Produces a shaded effect where the extremities (nose, ears, feet, tail) are darker than the body. Creates the sable and seal colors. Homozygous c^chlc^chl produces Siamese Sable; heterozygous c^chlc^h produces Sable Point (Seal).
c^h (Himalayan/Pointed) - Similar to sable but more extreme. The body is mostly white, with color restricted to the "points" (nose, ears, feet, tail). The eyes appear red/ruby. Homozygous c^hc^h produces Himalayan/Californian pattern.
c (Albino/REW) - Recessive. Completely eliminates all pigment production. The rabbit is pure white with red (pink) eyes. This is the Red-Eyed White, common in laboratory and pet rabbits (e.g., New Zealand White).

D Locus (Dilute)

The D locus controls the intensity/density of pigment in the hair shaft. It affects how pigment granules are distributed within each hair.

Alleles:

D (Dense) - Dominant. Pigment granules are evenly and densely packed, producing full-strength color.
d (Dilute) - Recessive. Pigment granules are clumped together and unevenly distributed, making the color appear lighter/washed out. Black becomes Blue, Chocolate becomes Lilac, Orange becomes Cream/Fawn.

E Locus (Extension)

The E locus controls the extension of eumelanin across the coat. It determines whether dark pigment is expressed, replaced by phaeomelanin, or expressed in special patterns.

Alleles (dominance order):

E^s (Steel) - Dominant extension. Extends eumelanin into the phaeomelanin (light) bands of agouti hairs, darkening the overall appearance. On agouti rabbits, this creates the "steel" color where tips appear gold/silver but the overall look is darker. Has minimal visible effect on self rabbits.
E (Normal extension) - Normal expression of eumelanin. The standard allele for most colors.
e^j (Japanese brindling) - Causes a mosaic pattern of eumelanin and phaeomelanin patches across the body. On agouti backgrounds, this creates the Harlequin pattern (alternating orange and black/blue patches). On self backgrounds, it creates the Japanese pattern.
e (Non-extension) - Recessive. Prevents eumelanin from being deposited in the hair shaft, so only phaeomelanin (yellow/red pigment) is expressed. This produces orange, fawn, cream, and tortoiseshell colors. Homozygous ee is required.

Rabbit Color Identification Chart

The following table maps common genotype combinations to their corresponding phenotype (visible color). Note that underscores (_) indicate that either the dominant or recessive allele can be present at that position without changing the phenotype.

Phenotype (Color Name)	A Locus	B Locus	C Locus	D Locus	E Locus
Black	`aa`	`B_`	`C_`	`D_`	`E_`
Blue	`aa`	`B_`	`C_`	`dd`	`E_`
Chocolate	`aa`	`bb`	`C_`	`D_`	`E_`
Lilac	`aa`	`bb`	`C_`	`dd`	`E_`
Castor (Chestnut Agouti)	`A_`	`B_`	`C_`	`D_`	`E_`
Opal	`A_`	`B_`	`C_`	`dd`	`E_`
Amber (Chocolate Agouti)	`A_`	`bb`	`C_`	`D_`	`E_`
Lynx	`A_`	`bb`	`C_`	`dd`	`E_`
Chinchilla	`A_`	`B_`	`c^chd_`	`D_`	`E_`
Squirrel (Blue Chinchilla)	`A_`	`B_`	`c^chd_`	`dd`	`E_`
Siamese Sable	`aa`	`B_`	`c^chlc^chl`	`D_`	`E_`
Smoke Pearl	`aa`	`B_`	`c^chlc^chl`	`dd`	`E_`
Sable Point (Seal)	`aa`	`B_`	`c^chlc^h`	`D_`	`E_`
Himalayan Black	`aa`	`B_`	`c^hc^h`	`D_`	`E_`
Himalayan Chocolate	`aa`	`bb`	`c^hc^h`	`D_`	`E_`
Himalayan Blue	`aa`	`B_`	`c^hc^h`	`dd`	`E_`
Himalayan Lilac	`aa`	`bb`	`c^hc^h`	`dd`	`E_`
REW (Red-Eyed White)	`__`	`__`	`cc`	`__`	`__`
Orange	`A_`	`__`	`C_`	`D_`	`ee`
Fawn/Cream	`A_`	`__`	`C_`	`dd`	`ee`
Tortoiseshell (Black Tort)	`aa`	`B_`	`C_`	`D_`	`ee`
Blue Tortoiseshell	`aa`	`B_`	`C_`	`dd`	`ee`
Chocolate Tortoiseshell	`aa`	`bb`	`C_`	`D_`	`ee`
Lilac Tortoiseshell	`aa`	`bb`	`C_`	`dd`	`ee`
Steel	`A_`	`B_`	`C_`	`D_`	`E^s_`
Harlequin / Tri-color	`A_`	`B_`	`C_`	`D_`	`e^je^j`

Common Rabbit Colors and Their Genotypes

Below is a detailed look at the most popular rabbit colors, their full genotypes, and how they arise genetically.

Black

Genotype: aa B_ C_ D_ E_. The simplest "self" color. The rabbit is homozygous recessive at the A locus (aa, meaning no agouti pattern), has at least one dominant B allele (black eumelanin), full color (C), dense pigment (D), and normal extension (E). The entire coat is a uniform, glossy jet black from tip to skin. This is one of the most common colors in many breeds.

Blue

Genotype: aa B_ C_ dd E_. Blue is the dilute form of black. Everything is the same as black except the D locus is homozygous recessive (dd), which causes pigment granules to clump, making black appear as a medium blue-gray. The shade varies by breed but should be a slate blue throughout.

Chocolate

Genotype: aa bb C_ D_ E_. Chocolate results from having the recessive brown allele (bb) at the B locus instead of black. The eumelanin produced is brown instead of black, giving a rich dark chocolate color. The eyes also appear brown rather than dark brown/black.

Lilac

Genotype: aa bb C_ dd E_. Lilac is the dilute form of chocolate, combining homozygous recessive at both the B locus (bb) and D locus (dd). The result is a pale, pinkish dove-gray color that is one of the lighter self colors. Lilac rabbits have blue-gray eyes.

Castor (Chestnut Agouti)

Genotype: A_ B_ C_ D_ E_. This is the wild-type color seen in wild rabbits. The dominant A allele creates banded hairs: each hair has a dark base, a middle band of orange/yellow (phaeomelanin), and a dark tip. Combined with black eumelanin (B), the result is the classic brown rabbit look. The belly is white/cream, and there are lighter areas around the eyes, inside the ears, and under the chin.

Opal

Genotype: A_ B_ C_ dd E_. Opal is the dilute form of castor/chestnut agouti. The banding pattern remains, but black is diluted to blue, and the orange bands become a pale fawn or cream. The overall appearance is a blue-gray with cream ticking.

Chinchilla

Genotype: A_ B_ c^chd_ D_ E_. Chinchilla is an agouti pattern where the chinchilla allele at the C locus removes most of the yellow/orange phaeomelanin from the hair bands. Instead of brown with orange ticking, the rabbit appears silver-gray with white ticking. The overall effect resembles the fur of a real chinchilla rodent.

Red-Eyed White (REW)

Genotype: __ __ cc __ __. The REW is homozygous for the albino allele (cc) at the C locus. This completely prevents all pigment production regardless of what alleles are present at every other locus. The rabbit is pure white with pink/red eyes (the red color comes from blood vessels visible through the unpigmented iris). REW is epistatic to all other color genes.

Himalayan / Pointed White

Genotype: __ __ c^hc^h __ __ (or c^hc). The Himalayan allele produces a temperature-sensitive pigment enzyme. Color only develops on the cooler extremities (nose, ears, feet, tail), while the warmer body remains white. This is the same mechanism as in Siamese cats. The point color depends on B and D loci: black points (B_D_), blue points (B_dd), chocolate points (bbD_), or lilac points (bbdd).

Siamese Sable

Genotype: aa B_ c^chlc^chl D_ E_. The homozygous sable allele creates a gradient effect: the extremities are very dark (nearly black) while the body is a warm sepia brown. The shading blends smoothly rather than having a sharp demarcation like Himalayan.

Orange and Tortoiseshell

Genotype for Orange: A_ __ C_ D_ ee. Genotype for Tortoiseshell: aa __ C_ D_ ee. The ee genotype at the E locus prevents eumelanin deposition, so only phaeomelanin (red/yellow) appears. On an agouti (A_) background, this produces the bright Orange color. On a self (aa) background, it produces the Tortoiseshell pattern, where patches of darker and lighter orange-fawn appear because the eumelanin pattern still influences phaeomelanin distribution slightly.

Rabbit Breeding Color Chart

When planning rabbit breedings, it is useful to know what to expect from common crosses. Here are some examples:

Parent 1	Parent 2	Possible Offspring
Black (aa BB CC DD EE)	Black (aa BB CC DD EE)	100% Black
Black (aa Bb CC DD EE)	Black (aa Bb CC DD EE)	75% Black, 25% Chocolate
Black (aa BB CC Dd EE)	Black (aa BB CC Dd EE)	75% Black, 25% Blue
Black (aa Bb CC Dd EE)	Black (aa Bb CC Dd EE)	56.25% Black, 18.75% Blue, 18.75% Chocolate, 6.25% Lilac
Black (aa BB CC DD EE)	REW (aa BB cc DD EE)	100% Black (all carry REW)
Black (aa BB Cc DD EE)	Black (aa BB Cc DD EE)	75% Black, 25% REW
Castor (AA BB CC DD EE)	Black (aa BB CC DD EE)	100% Castor (Agouti) - all carry self
Castor (Aa BB CC DD EE)	Black (aa BB CC DD EE)	50% Castor, 50% Black
Orange (AA BB CC DD ee)	Black (aa BB CC DD EE)	100% Castor (all carry self and non-extension)
Chinchilla (AA BB cchdcchd DD EE)	REW (aa BB cc DD EE)	100% Chinchilla (Agouti + chinchilla carrier REW)

Key principle: When two carriers of the same recessive gene are bred together, approximately 25% of their offspring will express the recessive trait, 50% will be carriers, and 25% will be homozygous dominant. This 1:2:1 genotype ratio produces a 3:1 phenotype ratio for simple dominant/recessive traits.

Understanding Punnett Squares for Rabbit Breeding

A Punnett square is a simple grid used to predict the probability of offspring genotypes from a genetic cross. It was named after the English geneticist Reginald C. Punnett, who devised the approach in the early 1900s.

How a Punnett Square Works

For a single gene locus with two alleles per parent:

Write one parent's two alleles across the top of the grid (one per column).
Write the other parent's two alleles along the left side (one per row).
Fill in each cell by combining the column allele with the row allele.
Each cell represents one equally likely offspring genotype (each with a 25% probability).

Example: Crossing Two Black Carriers of Chocolate (Bb x Bb)

	B	b
B	BB	Bb
b	Bb	bb

Result: 25% BB (Black, non-carrier), 50% Bb (Black, carrier of chocolate), 25% bb (Chocolate). Phenotypically: 75% Black, 25% Chocolate.

Multi-Locus Punnett Squares

When dealing with multiple independent loci, you have two options: (1) create one massive Punnett square with all possible gamete combinations (which gets exponentially large), or (2) analyze each locus independently and multiply the probabilities. This calculator uses the second method, which is more practical. For example, if there's a 75% chance of black at the B locus and a 75% chance of dense at the D locus, the probability of being both black and dense is 0.75 x 0.75 = 56.25%.

Rabbit Names by Color

Rabbit breeders have developed a rich vocabulary of color names, many of which vary by breed. Here are some of the most interesting naming conventions:

Castor: The chestnut agouti color, named after the beaver (Castor) because of its similar brown appearance. Used primarily in Rex breeds.
Opal: The dilute agouti (blue-based agouti), named for its resemblance to the blue-gray shimmer of opal gemstones.
Lynx: The dilute chocolate agouti (lilac-based agouti), named for its resemblance to the fur of a lynx cat.
Otter: The tan pattern (a^t) on self colors, named because the markings resemble the contrasting belly of an otter.
Tort (Tortoiseshell): Named after tortoiseshell, referring to the mottled orange/fawn and darker shading pattern.
Sable Point: Also called "Seal," referring to the darkened points reminiscent of seal fur.
Ermine: Another name for the white body with dark points seen in Himalayan rabbits, named after the ermine (stoat in winter coat).
Squirrel: The blue chinchilla color (dilute chinchilla), named for its resemblance to gray squirrel fur.
Smoke Pearl: The dilute sable color, a soft pearly blue-gray with darker shading.
Harlequin: Named after the theatrical character, referring to the striking alternating patches of orange and black (or blue).
Steel: Named for the dark, metallic appearance where gold or silver tipping barely peeks through dark fur.
Fawn: A lighter, cream-tinged orange, named after the color of young deer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the chances of getting a specific color from a rabbit cross?

The probability of any particular color depends entirely on the genotypes of both parents. For simple cases, you can use Punnett squares at each locus and multiply the probabilities. For example, if both parents are Bb (black carrying chocolate) and Dd (dense carrying dilute), the chance of a Lilac offspring (bbdd) is 1/4 (bb) x 1/4 (dd) = 1/16, or 6.25%. This calculator does all these calculations automatically across all five loci and combines them to show you exact percentages for every possible color outcome.

Q: Can two black rabbits produce a chocolate or blue offspring?

Yes, if both parents carry the recessive allele. Two black rabbits that are both Bb (carriers of chocolate) have a 25% chance of producing a chocolate kit in each litter. Similarly, two black rabbits that are both Dd (carriers of dilute) have a 25% chance of producing a blue kit. If both parents carry both recessives (BbDd), they can produce black, blue, chocolate, and lilac offspring.

Q: What is a Red-Eyed White (REW) rabbit hiding genetically?

A REW rabbit is homozygous for the albino allele (cc) at the C locus, which prevents all pigment production. This means a REW rabbit can carry ANY combination of alleles at the A, B, D, and E loci, and you cannot tell by looking at it. This is why breeding two REW rabbits together can sometimes produce colored offspring if one is not cc at the C locus (which cannot happen if both are truly cc). Breeding a REW to a colored rabbit will reveal some of the hidden genotype in the offspring.

Q: How do I know if my rabbit carries a recessive gene?

There are two main ways to determine if a rabbit carries a recessive gene: (1) Pedigree analysis: If a rabbit's parents or grandparents were a color that requires a recessive allele, the rabbit may carry it. For example, a black rabbit from a blue parent must carry dilute (Dd). (2) Test breeding: Breed the rabbit to one that is homozygous recessive at the locus in question. If any offspring show the recessive trait, the tested rabbit is a carrier. For example, breed a black rabbit to a chocolate rabbit; if any chocolate kits appear, the black parent is Bb.

Q: What is the difference between Himalayan and Californian?

Himalayan and Californian refer to the same genetic color pattern: a white body with colored points on the nose, ears, feet, and tail, with red/ruby eyes. "Himalayan" is the color name used across many breeds, while "Californian" is a specific breed of rabbit that is always this color. The genotype is c^hc^h (or c^hc) at the C locus. The point color is determined by the B and D loci: Black Himalayan (B_D_), Blue Himalayan (B_dd), Chocolate Himalayan (bbD_), or Lilac Himalayan (bbdd).

Q: Can I get a Harlequin rabbit from two solid-colored parents?

To get a Harlequin (Japanese brindling pattern), the offspring needs to be homozygous for the e^j allele (e^je^j) at the E locus and have an agouti pattern (A_) at the A locus. If both parents carry e^j hidden behind a dominant E allele, and both carry agouti, then yes, Harlequin offspring are possible even from solid-colored parents, though the probability may be low depending on the specific genotypes.

Q: Why does my rabbit's color change with the seasons?

Some rabbit colors are temperature-sensitive. Rabbits with the c^h (Himalayan) or c^chl (Sable) alleles produce enzymes that work better at cooler temperatures. In cold weather, color may darken and extend further across the body, while in warm weather it may lighten. This is why Himalayan rabbits sometimes develop darker body patches in winter. Additionally, sun exposure can bleach dark colors, making black appear rusty and blue appear brownish. Molt cycles also affect color intensity.

Q: What colors can I get from crossing a Chinchilla with a Black rabbit?

A Chinchilla rabbit (A_ B_ c^chdc^chd D_ E_) crossed with a Black rabbit (aa B_ C_ D_ E_) will produce offspring that are all A_a_ (agouti, carrying self) at the A locus and Cc^chd at the C locus. All first-generation offspring will appear as Chestnut Agouti (Castor) because both A and C are dominant over their respective partners. However, if the Chinchilla is Aa and the F1s are crossed, second-generation offspring could include Castor, Black, Chinchilla, and more depending on other loci.