A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ (brown eyes)
Base: Slate Blue
Intermediate: Orange
Surface: Brown tipped in Black
(Note that longer coats may show more than 3 distinct bands).
Chestnut Agouti Hair Shaft
1. Surface Color 2. Intermediate Band 3. Base Color
Genotype: A_B_C_D_E_
Chestnut Agouti is the basic "wild" color coat and is one of the most common coat colors of the domestic rabbit. Chestnut Agoutis are born black with light bellies.
The surface color is brown with black ticking as well as cream to white agouti pattern markings in the ears, around the eyes, nose lacing, jowls, belly, inside of legs and underside of tail. An orange "triangle" is generally evident on the neck behind the ears. Click here for detailed photo. Eye Color: Brown
The black based Chestnut Agouti can be distinguished from the Chocolate Agouti A_bbC_D_E_ by the lighter brown color as well as the lack of black tipped hairs on the surface color and (especially evident by checking the top of the tail of the chocolate agouti.) A ruby glow may show in dim light in the eyes of any chocolate based color.
The gold tipped steel can be distinguished from the Chestnut Agouti by the steel's lack of intermediate orange band in the coat as well as the colored belly and diminished agouti markings.
In conjunction with the recessive wide band gene, the black tipping is minimized, the belly is generally buff colored and the surface color is generally a rufus red. Some breeds accept both the normal and wide band versions of the chestnut agouti. Individuals with the wide band gene may have a light, rather than slate blue, belly undercolor.
ARBA Breeds that accept this variety include (as of 2009 ARBA Standard):
Breed Name ARBA Standard Variety Name
American Fuzzy Lop (Chestnut) - Shown in the Solid Group.
English, French & Satin Angora (Chestnut. The wide band rufus red version is known as "Copper")
Shown in the Colored Group.
Belgian Hare (rufus wide band)
Britannia Petite (Chestnut Agouti)
Dutch (Gray)
English Spot (Gray) -- Note that the English Spot has been selectively bred for 3 distinctive hair shafts
that should not show a distinct ring color when blown into. (Ring color is faulted)
1. Black 2. Black with Tan Tip 3. Black with narrow Tan Band near the Tip.
Flemish Giant (Sandy -- rufus red)
Holland Lop (Chestnut Agouti)
Jersey Wooly (Chestnut) - Shown in the Agouti Group.
English, French and Mini Lop (Chestnut Agouti) - Shown in the Solid Group.
Mini Rex (Castor)
Netherland Dwarf (Chestnut) - Shown by Variety, then in the Agouti Group.
Rex (Castor)
Satin (Copper)
Silver (Brown)
ARBA general disqualifications disqualify for lack of ring definition in all breeds (except the English Spot).
Harlequin belly markings are sometimes seen (DQ) in breeds such as the Mini Rex. The marks appear as dark bands across the surface of the belly.
(Note that Chestnut Agouti coloration may also occur in other breeds that it is not accepted in such as the New Zealand, Mini Satin and the American).