Updated: Dec. 30 (2023)
Kinky
Kinky, k/k
Two copies of the recessive Kinky
Chromosome: 3
RVG description:
The appearance of rats homozygous for this character is quite striking, as every hair is kinky giving the coat a distinctly curly appearance. Newborn rats that will later have a kinky coat can be distinguished from their normal sibs by their curly vibrissae.
From the first, the hairs over the entire body, including the vibrissae, are markedly curly or kinky. The juvenile pelage is shorter, appears very dense, and is of a woolly texture to the touch. The adult pelages are somewhat shorter and rougher than normal. In the kinky rats over six months of age regeneration of hair does not seem to keep pace with an excessive breakage of the hair. As a result bare spots appear, particularly on the shoulders and hips. The behavior of the curly haired rats seems to indicate that their coat is of less value in conserving body heat than is the normal, straight type. The hair of the kinky rats tends to be more flattened in shape. The difference is not constantly great in all hairs examined from any two rats, for some hairs from the kinky haired rats tend to be as round in cross-section at some points along their length as those from normals.
Sources:
Two copies of the recessive Kinky
Chromosome: 3
RVG description:
The appearance of rats homozygous for this character is quite striking, as every hair is kinky giving the coat a distinctly curly appearance. Newborn rats that will later have a kinky coat can be distinguished from their normal sibs by their curly vibrissae.
From the first, the hairs over the entire body, including the vibrissae, are markedly curly or kinky. The juvenile pelage is shorter, appears very dense, and is of a woolly texture to the touch. The adult pelages are somewhat shorter and rougher than normal. In the kinky rats over six months of age regeneration of hair does not seem to keep pace with an excessive breakage of the hair. As a result bare spots appear, particularly on the shoulders and hips. The behavior of the curly haired rats seems to indicate that their coat is of less value in conserving body heat than is the normal, straight type. The hair of the kinky rats tends to be more flattened in shape. The difference is not constantly great in all hairs examined from any two rats, for some hairs from the kinky haired rats tend to be as round in cross-section at some points along their length as those from normals.
Sources: