Illustrated glossary of mutations in zebrafinch
- By Tony Lombard
- On 27/01/2019
- In Genetics and selection criteria
I made this glossary to illustrate in photos the existing mutations in the zebrafinch.
He can help you identify the mutation (s) of your zebra finches.
Important precision :To identify the genotype of your zebrafinch, it will be necessary to take into account that a zebra finch can carry a mutation without being mutant.
Being a carrier (/, split) of a mutation means that it is partially present (genetically speaking). From the visual point of view the partially carried mutation will not be seen or only by some clues present in the appearance of the bird.
In this case, it will be necessary to have a trained eye to determine the genotype. Sometimes check couplings will be necessary.
Your zebra finch can also have several mutations, the possible combinations are numerous.
This glossary is based solely on the phenotype (visual characteristics) and single mutations (not combined).
Grey (GR)
The gray zebrafinch is not a mutation, it is the original (wild) type.
1. Gender-related mutations
The female can never be a split, so she is either mutant or non-mutant.
The male can be a split of the mutation.
Brown (Br)
Pale back
Mask, old type
Mask, new type
2. Dominant mutations
Neither male nor female can be a split, it only takes one mutant to obtain 50% of young mutants.
Black face (BF)
crested
Gray cheeks
Pastel
Clear cheeks
3. Free recessive mutations
Both male and female can carry the mutation. The trait must be present twice to be visible in both male and female.
Agate
Yellow beak
White
Eumo
Isabelle
Black cheeks
variegated
White breast
Black chest
Orange breast
4. Some combinations of mutations
Male black face, orange chest, black chest
Male black face, black cheeks
Male mask black cheeks
Pastel male pale back
Female brown cheeks
5. Uncommon mutations (on the date of the article)
- Thanks to Bart Houben and Loïc Leducq, owners of the published photos, who granted the publication.
dominant Mutation mutant split genotype phenotype sex-related recessive