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Downunder

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 8 months ago

Downunder

 

Description

 

Named both for its appearance and for its place of origin (Australia) the Downunder rat has markings on the top of the body and downunder on the belly. The downunder rat can be in any recognized color, since it is a marking and not a color standard. There are several different kinds of Downunder marking, from Hooded to Berkshire and some in-between, but the defining characteristic is that despite white markings on the belly there are also massive colored markings of the same color as the top of the rat. It is a very distinct marking pattern which is impossible to mistake.

 

Genetics

 

Downunder has not been scientifically described, but seems to be a simple recessive like other markings. Like other markings, excellence of marking in the parents is no indicator that offspring will be similarly excellent; selection is most important. Some lines of Downunder have been associated with Megacolon, so care must be taken to know the pedigree and background of breeding stock.

 

Standards

 

RSA (provisional)

Downunder Berkshire

The rat shall have a solid body color on top, with a colored belly stripe covering the white berkshire belly, and be as symmetrical as possible. There should be as much white dappling and spotting as possible, extending up the sides from the white berkshire belly edges and running full length between the front and rear legs on each side.

 

The belly stripe is to be a connected and continuous stripe of color, extending from the colored area beneath the throat all the way to, and filling the area between the back legs. The chest and belly should be completely colored. The demarcation between the white side markings and the belly color shall be as even, symmetrical and cleanly cut as possible. The colored belly should not contain any white spots. The back legs should have white socks to the ankle, and the front legs should have white socks to mid leg. The tail should have a white tip. The color is to conform to color standards, with agouti-based animals having paler belly stripes.

 

Faults: uneven belly markings and side markings; white markings on belly; color on feet, white chin or head spot; missing white tail tip, excepting in pink eye and ruby eye varieties.

Disqualifications: lack of belly stripe, white berkshire belly not visible around belly stripe.

 

 

Downunder Hooded

The marking should include all of the head, throat and shoulders, and there should be a connected and continuous stripe of color extending from the colored area between the shoulders all the way to and including as much of the tail as possible. The stripe should measure one inch or slightly wider, and be in proportion to the rat, tapering slightly at the base of the tail to avoid coloring the back legs. The colored stripe should be complete, unbroken and run straight down the line of the spine without curves, being symmetrical on each side, and devoid of brindling or jagged edges. The back legs and feet are to be totally white. The front legs and feet are to be white to at least to mid leg, and preferably all the way to the body without disrupting the hood pigment over the shoulders. The belly stripe should be a connected and continuous stripe of color extending from the colored area beneath the throat all the way to and filling the area between the back legs. The chest and belly should be completely colored. The demarcation between white sides and belly color should be as even, symmetrical and cleanly cut as possible. The color should not extend up the sides and not contain any white spots. The sides are to be white and free of color spots, and the color is to conform to color standards, with agouti-based animals having paler belly stripes.

 

Faults: uneven, lopsided, narrow, broken or brindled stripe; uneven or brindled hood; color on legs; white marking on head, face or chin; colored spots elsewhere on the body or white spots on the stomach.

Disqualifications: no stripe down spine, no stripe down belly; obvious and conspicuous spots which detract from the appearance of the overall coat pattern.

 

 

Downunder Hooded/Spotted

This marking is similar to the Downunder hooded marking, but with as many side spots as possible. The color should include all of the head, throat and shoulders. There should be a connected and continuous stripe of color, extending from the colored area between the shoulders and continuing all the way to, and including, as much of the tail as possible. It should measure one inch or slightly wider, and be in proportion to the rat, tapering slightly at the base of the tail to avoid coloring the back legs. The colored stripe should be complete, unbroken and run straight down the line of the spine without curves, being symmetrical on each side. The brindling or jagged edges are acceptable where it meets spots. The back legs and feet to be totally white or white with colored spots. The front legs and feet are to be white to at least the mid leg, or white with colored spots, preferably all the way to the body without disrupting the hood pigment over the shoulders. The belly stripe should be a connected and continuous stripe of color extending from the colored area beneath the throat all the way to, and filling the area between the back legs. The chest and belly should be completely colored. The demarcation between white sides and belly color shall be as even, symmetrical and clean cut as possible, except where intercepting a spot. The color should not extend up the sides and not contain any white spots. The sides are to be white with as many color spots as possible, and be evenly distributed. The color on the tail can be spotted, with the body color conforming to color standards, with agouti-based animals having paler belly stripes.

 

Faults: stripe does not reach tail; uneven, lopsided, narrow, broken or brindled stripe; uneven or brindled hood; white marking on head, face or chin; white spot on stomach.

Disqualifications: no stripe down spine or belly; lack of spots.

 

 

Downunder Spotted

The back and belly stripes are to be as broken as possible, giving the effect of spotting all over the back and belly. Side spots are desirable. The hood color should include all of the head, throat and shoulders. The line of demarcation beneath the hood should cross the chest where the throat joins, and it should be smooth without raggedness or brindling except where intercepting a spot. There should be a broken and brindled stripe of color extending from the colored area between the shoulders all the way to, and including, as much of the tail as possible. The spread of the spots down the spine is to measure one inch or slightly wider, and be in proportion to the rat, tapering slightly at the base of the tail to avoid coloring the back legs. The back legs and feet are to be totally white or white with colored spots. The front legs and feet are to be white to at least to mid leg or white with colored spots, but preferably white all the way to the body without disrupting the hood pigment over the shoulders. The tail color is to be spotted.

 

The belly stripe should be a broken and brindled stripe of color extending from the colored area beneath the throat all the way to, and filling the area between the back legs. The chest and belly color should be as broken and spotted as possible. The sides can be clear of color spots, although spotting is desirable, with as many color spots as possible and evenly distributed. The head spot or stripe, and white chin stripe are highly desirable. The head spot or stripe should be even, symmetrical, cleanly cut and not touching the eyes. The color is to conform to color standards, with agouti-based animals having paler belly stripes.

 

Faults: line of spots does not follow back and belly stripe lines to tail; back stripe or belly color not broken enough; missing color spots on tail.

Disqualifications: lack of spotting on belly conforming to downunder belly stripe; solid stripe down spine or solid stripe down belly.

 

 

Downunder Variegated

The back hood is to be as broken up as possible, giving the effect of spotting all over the back with side spotting. Sides are to be white with as many color spots as possible and be evenly distributed. The color should include all of the head, throat and shoulders with splashes of color over the back and sides. There should be a white spot or stripe on the forehead which is even, symmetrical, cleanly cut and not touching the eyes. The back legs and feet are to be totally white or white with colored spots. The front legs and feet are to be white to at least the mid leg, or white with colored spots, preferably all the way to the body without disrupting the hood pigment over the shoulders. The tail color is to be spotted. The belly stripe should be a connected and continuous stripe of color, extending from the colored area beneath the throat all the way to, and filling the area between the back legs. The chest and belly should be completely colored. The demarcation between white sides and belly color shall be as even, symmetrical and clean cut as possible except where intercepting a spot. The belly color should not extend up the sides and not contain any white spots. The sides are to be white with as many color spots as possible and be evenly distributed.  The color is to conform to the color standards, with agouti-based animals having paler belly stripes.

 

Faults: broken belly stripe; obvious back stripe, or back stripe not broken enough; back spots not evenly distributed from head to tail; missing color spots on tail; lack of headspot or stripe.

Disqualifications: lack of belly stripe; solid stripe down spine; broken belly stripe.

 

RatsPacNW

"Body marking to follow any standardized pattern but with belly stripe or spots."

 

URS

Downunder Berkshire

"Solid body color, in any recognized color, on top with a matching colored stripe running the length of the white Berkshire belly. Belly stripe to be of good width (1" or more), and as clean and symmetrical as possible, extending in a thick, unbroken line from the base of the throat down to, and filling in, the area between the back legs. To have a clear cut demarcation line devoid of brindling or spotting between top and bottom. Feet and up to half of the end of tail to be white. Small headspot acceptable. Agouti-based rats will have a paler belly stripe.

Faults: broken or overly jagged belly stripe, white spots on belly."

Downunder Hooded

"Rat should have a white body, with a hood of any recognized color, covering the head, neck, throat, chest and shoulders and continuing in an unbroken line or stripe from the hood's center between the rat's shoulders, down the rat's spine to the base of the tail, with as much of the tail as possible being colored. Spine stripe should be of moderate width ( 1/2" to 1" ) and as straight and even as possible, without ragged edges or brindling. Belly stripe to match top, being as clean and symmetrical as possible and extending in a thick, unbroken line from the colored chest down to, and filling in, the area between the back legs. Agouti-based rats will have a paler belly stripe.

Faults: Broken or overly jagged hood or belly stripe, color or brindling in any of the white areas including the belly."

Downunder Hooded/Spotted

"Similar to the Downunder Hooded but with as many side spots as possible allowing for brindling or jagged edges where the spine stripe meets spots. Belly stripe to match top, being as clean and symmetrical as possible and extending in a thick, unbroken line from the colored chest down to, and filling in, the area between the back legs. Agouti-based rats will have a paler belly stripe.

Faults: Broken hood or belly stripe, lack of spots."


Downunder Spotted

"Back and belly stripes, in any recognized color, to be as broken and spotted as possible giving the appearance of spotting all over the back and the underside of rat. Belly stripe to extend in a broken and brindled line from the base of the throat down to, and filling in, the area between the back legs. Agouti-based rats will have paler belly markings.

Faults: Distinct and unbroken spine or belly stripes, lack of spotting."


Downunder Variegated

"Head and shoulders to be of a recognized color variety complete with a headspot or blaze. Back of the animal to be covered in clear, distinct patches and spots of the same recognized color. Tail to have spotting. Belly stripe to be of good width (1" or more), and as clean and symmetrical as possible, extending in a thick, unbroken line from the base of the throat down to, and filling in, the area between the back legs. Agouti-based rats will have a paler belly stripe.

Faults: Broken belly stripe or spotting on the underside, distinct hooded marking along spine, clumping of spots and patches or lack of spots and patches."

 

Pictures

 

Black Downunder Buck (c) Sarah Easter

 

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