Grey Squirrels

 Important Note: The first three genes in this are not based on known squirrel genes, as data for this sort of thing doesn't seem to exist (believe me, I've looked). The first three loci are a simplified system I have created to approximate how squirrel coloration seems to work in the wild.

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A Locus

A | Wild-type
The squirrel will appear normal, with different bands of color on the strands of fur.

a | Melanistic
The squirrel will be melanistic; which variety of melanism depends on other genes. Please see the special section below for more info on determining which form of melanism will be expressed.

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B Locus
This gene controls the amount of brown in the coat, and has two co-dominant alleles.

BB | Solid grey
The squirrel will be grey all over, with very little red or brown. The hairs will still have their natural agouti banding, ranging from dark to light, but there will be very little red or brown pigment overall.


Bb | A little red/brown
The squirrel will have varying amounts of red and brown throughout the coat, most notable splashes on the face and in the undercoat of the tail.


bb | Lots of red/brown
The squirrel will be almost entirely red or brown, with very little grey on them. The hairs will still have their natural agouti banding

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R Locus
This gene controls whether red or brown pigment is produced, and has two co-dominant alleles. Pretty self explanatory. A bbR- squirrel will be almost entirely brown, while a bbrr squirrel will be almost entirely red.

RR | Brown pigment


Rr | Reddish brown pigment


rr | Red pigment

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Special Section: Melanistic Squirrels
In the wild, there are four basic varieties of melanistic squirrels. The genetics for each "type" of melanistic squirrel are unique, and are based on two or three of the preceding alleles.

aaBB
The squirrel will be completely jet-black.


aaBb
The squirrel will be jet-black with a scattering of silver and white guard hairs.


aabbR-
The squirrel will be brownish black with brown or rusty brown belly fur


aabbrr
The squirrel will be black with a red belly and/or tail.

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D Locus
This gene has two alleles. The recessive allele dilutes the reds and browns in the coat coat to an overall yellow or cream color. It's effects are only really pronounced on squirrels with a "bb" genotype.

D | Wild Type

d | Dilution of red or brown pigment

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Special Section: Blonde Squirrels

There are two main varieties of "blonde" squirrel--yellow-blonde and cream-blonde. Each has a very specific genotype.

A-bbR-dd | Yellow Blonde


A-bbrrdd | Cream Blonde

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C Locus
This is the albino gene. It has two alleles.

C | Wild-type

c | Albino
The squirrel will not produce pigment, so it will be snow white with pink or red eyes (in rare cases, very pale blue eyes are possible as well). The squirrel will have severe vision problems.

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S Locus
This is the whitespotting gene. It has three alleles.

S | Wild-type
No whitespotting.

s^p | Piebald
The squirrel will have big patches of white at random points all over it's body.


s | Leucistic
Looks very much like an albino squirrel, but with dark eyes. No vision problems.