Rat Markings
By Emily of EaglesEye Rattery

Rat markings can come in any color. Descriptions are based on correct show quality markings, but getting 100% perfect markings is rare so your rat may be a marking genetically, but not look like the example in the photos.

Self:
AKA Solid
No markings, solid coloration all over body. (Some self rats will have white toes which is a fault)

RWR Tidepool- Am. blue self

Berkshire:
The rat has a white belly and white extending to all 4 feet.  Preferably with a half white tail from the tip.

LCR Classy Lady- Blue berkshire dumbo

Variegated:
Variegated rats have markings much like that of a berkshire rat but instead of a solid pattern of color on their back they have spots/ splashes.  Many variegated rats have a blaze or a head spot.

Variegated Berkshire (Variberk):
A berkshire rat with splashes of white and color on their back and belly markings.  Many variberk rats have a blaze or a head spot. This marking may simply be a mismarked varigated with solid color on the back instead of the correct spotting and splashes.

Banded:
AKA American Berkshire, Aurora, Blazed Banded
Rat has a belly marking like a berkshire, or a 'band' of color up their side. Often has a blaze (Wedge shaped, or strip of white up face) or headspot (Spot on the forehead). These markings are dominant high white markings known to cause mega colon when bred to other high whites.

Cap-stripe- Rat is capped (See above) and then has an unattached stripe going from it's shoulders and down it's tail (Much like the stripe of a hooded rat).  Rat should either be blazed or have a notch in their cap at the base of the skull.  (Some call the notch a 'reverse blaze')

Irish:
Colored rat with white paws, and a white spot or triangle on their chest.  Some irish have white ovals on their chest/belly.  This gene is a modified version of the berkshire marking.

Hooded:
Rats head and shoulders are covered with color and a stripe attached that goes down the rats spine and preferably down to the tail coloring the tail. 

DownUnder:
A new mutation discovered in '98 in Australia and imported to the US late '02.  The DU rats have a normal hooded, berkshire, or variegated marking, and then the unique marking on their belly corresponding with their markings.  

Capped:
Colored marking on top of rats head.  (A cap that covers the rats whole face all the way to the back of their skull.)  Many capped rats have a notch off the back of their cap (Like a V with the point going towards the nose)

Masked:
A rectangle marking that covers the eyes.  (Much like Zorro's mask)

Dalmatian:
Rat has spots on it's body and usually a colored 'collar' behind their ears.

Roan AKA European Husky:
A blazed and banded or berkshire type marking. A UK Husky rat starts off solid colored but fades (silvers) out with age to often completely white.  This pattern resembles a Husky dog with the markings, and fading.  Roans can be any color.  For more info and pics on roans visit my Roan Rat Info Page.

EAGL You Raise Me Up
Charcoal Roan

Shaded Markings

Shaded markings can come in any of the above markings.  In shaded rats there is the base color with markings of a second (Sometimes 3 but not much study has been done on the genetics of the tricolor varieties or whether this shading is genetic or not) color on the base color.

Siamese:
Siamese rats have a beige base color and darker shading on their nose, ears, tail and base of tail, and on their feet.  (Like siamese in other species)  The shading of a siamese can be any color.  Most common is 'Seal point' (Black points), but there are mink points, blue points, etc.  Marked siamese are often called 'triamese' as a cute nickname. Some siamese will fade from beige, to pale cream-white. This is a show fault, as correct siamese will be a rich beige their whole lives.

Himalayan:
Himalayans have the same type of shading as a siamese rat except on a white base.  Himalayan shading can also come in any color. Himalayans are born white.

Black Eyed Siamese and Himalayan:
Same as above, but with black eyes. This is a dominant gene newly imported to the US, that 'covers' the light eyes of albino based rats and makes them black. This variety is called BES, and BEH by many breeders.

Burmese:
This gene is co-dominant with shading and/or albino based colors. Newly imported from Europe to the US. Homozygous burmese are called sable, and agouti-based burmese are called wheaton. (Photos of assorted burmese colors coming soon)

Merle:
Merle rats have a mink colored base with darker patches or splashes.  Merle in rats only shows in mink based colors such as mink, pearl, lilac, etc.  Merling shows up best in young rats when the fur first comes in.  Merle rats can come in any marking.  For more info and pics on merles visit my Merle Rat Info Page.