The Journal of Heredity 2002:93(3)
© 2002 The American Genetic Association 93:209-210
Brief Communication |
A Blond Coat Color Variation in Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
From the Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 209 Copeland Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32306.
Address correspondence to J. Thomas Curtis at the address above or e-mail: tcurtis{at}psy.fsu.edu.
Color mutations occur frequently among rodents. Here we describe a blond coat color mutation in the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) that arose in a captive breeding colony established from wild-caught animals from southern Illinois. The blond coat coloration results from changes in the color and distribution of pigments in the hair. The mutation is monogenic autosomal recessive.