Sugar Glider Coat

Pigmentation

Written by Kelsey Younts with help from Diane Robertson

Allelic Series
A, a Agouti, non-agouti (gene ASP): Currently we do not have nonagouti, so as far as we know all sugar gliders are AA
B, b (gene TYRP1) As far as we know, we do not have any brown
gliders that have shown to be heritable. If the cremino mutation is
TRP1, then we have bcr (cremino) and bcrun (cremino unstable)
C, c Color locus albino (gene TYR): C, c, cun (unstable), cde (dark-eyed)
D, d Non-dilute, dilute (gene one of the transport proteins RAB,
Melanophillin, or Myocin): Platinum may have dilute gene or may have
MITF genes, unknown whether platinum fits here or in E series
E, e Extension (gene MITF): E, e (leucistic, black eyed white), possibly
eplat (platinum). White spot mosaic mutation may fall into this series as
a dominant mutation Ews
Agouti Responsible for determining whether an animals coat is
banded (agouti) or of a solid color (non-agouti). Agouti is a type of
coloring in which each hair displays alternating bands of dark and light
pigmentation (Wikipedia).
TYRP1
TYR
MITF Transcription factor, turns on several genes that have many
functions such as transcription of genes that control cell lineage
specification and commitment, migration, proliferation, and survival of
pigment cells. Provides several different outcomes.
Kit-C RTK receptor involved in migration, proliferation, and survival,
based on availability of stem cell factor (Kit-L, bot cell bound and free)
and its ability to bind to it. Under direction of MITF (which causes both
Kit-C and Kit-L to be transcribed).

Classic/Standard Gray

Phenotype: Range of shades of gray. Dark

stripe that runs from tip of head to the tail.
Dark bars that extend from their ears to their
eyes. Carrying the gene for a recessive trait
such as leucistic, cremino, platinum, or
albino slightly alters coat color (and
occasionally eye color) phenotypes.
Genotype: AA, BB, CC, DD, EE or hets for c,
e.
Variations: Black Beauty, Black Face Black
Beauty, Lion, Cinnamon, Red

Black Beauty
Phenotype: A variation of classic gray.
Characterized by a dark black stripe,
generally dark rings around their eyes
(called eye liner), black knuckles,
black bars that run from the ears to
the eyes, a dark chin strap, and a dark
undertone to the belly fur (usually
silver).
Genotype: Polygenic. Believed that all
are partially dominant, except that a
single leucistic gene thins the stripe
every time.
Related: Black Face Black Beauty

Figure 1 Black Face Black Beauty

Leucistic
Phenotype: Solid white fur, no
stripe, no ear bars. Black eyes.
Genotype: Recessive trait. Trait
e. Caused by a reduction of skin
pigment. Genes responsible are
usually the c-kit gene and the mitf
gene. In the embryonic state, these
genes result in the defect of a
transmembrane protein which
results in an absence of
melanocytes (cells that produce
pigment).

Founding Lines
Ethan, Gabriel, Fizban
Cheese
Sammie, Sesamie
Magnolia

Snow White

Cremino
Also known as crme-ino, creamino.
Phenotype: Creamy fur color, tawny
stripe, garnet eyes. Eyes may be different
shades of garnet, from a black
appearance to a red appearance.
Genotype: IF cremino mutation is TRP1,
they would be b-cr (cremino), b-crun
(cremino unstable).
Related: Paradox cremino (unstable)
silver appearance, occasionally black
spots

Figure 2 Paradox Cremino (source: Sherri Lamb

Albino

Phenotype: All white with red eyes.

Joeys often born with a faint
diamond or stripe.
Genotype: Color locus (C) C, c, cun (unstable), c-de (dark-eyed).
Caused by a mutation in a gene
coding protein for a pigment
synthesizing enzyme, resulting in
the bodys inability to make
melanin. The red eyes are due to
the unmasking of the red
hemoglobin pigment in the blood
vessels of the retina.
Founding Lines: Moe and Disco

Related: albino unstable (tawny

stripe) and albino dark-eyed
(garnet eyes)

Figure 3 Cremino unstable

Platinum

Figure 4 Cremino dark-eyed (source: Adri

Lopez)

Phenotype: Light silver fur, taupe or

light gray stripe. Stripe usually more
narrow. Paws may be white.
Genotype: May be dilute (D) or MITF
(E). Platinum is co-expressed with
leucistic, so that you get platinum
with either two platinum genes or
one platinum and one leucistic gene.
This does not work vice versa.
Founding Lines:

Haley
Silverbelle

Caramino

There is very little known about caramino.

Caramino does not fit into allelic notation (may
be related to P). Likely the same as OCA3 which is
now known to be a DCT mutation.

Mosaic and Piebald

(White Spot)

According to literature, there are so

far 18 or so genes discovered that
influence the mosaic pattern,
including vitiligo genes, early
graying genes, and stem cell factor
genes. Mosaic is a dominant trait,
but we have been unable to
identify any homozygous mosaics.
Founding Lines (non-sterile):
Mac and Cheese
Mother White
Figure 5 Finley the reverse stripe marbled
mosaic (source: Nikki Robinson)

Figure 6 Ringtail mosaic (source:

Tyler Cleckley)

Figure 7 Rajah, powdered platinum mosaic (source:

Gwen Hovde) *

MISSING: Picture of white mosaic. Better picture of ringtail mosaic.

Picture of minimally marked mosaic.
* Although the coloring is called platinum, platinum mosaics do not
have the two recessive alleles for platinum, only the phenotypic
coloring.
It is possible for other recessive traits to be expressed with mosaic.

Luna the mocistic (both leucistic

and mosaic) cremino het. Mocistics
are distinguishable from white
mosaics because they do not have
black eyeliner and because their
spots on their ears do not begin to
form until 5-6 weeks OOP.
Figure 8 Luna the mocistic (source: Beth
Cramer)

Figure 10 Willow the true

platinum mosaic (source:
Scarlet McSherry )

Figure 9 Cremino mosaic ringtail (source: Nikki

Robinson)

Piebald
Piebald is a variation of mosaic. Very
little is known about piebald. We have
pied lines, but many of our best
piebalds have come from minimally
marked mosaics paired with grays.
Because the convention in sugar glider
breeding for the past decade and a
half has been to always outbreed, no
lines have been established that
reliably produce piebalds.
Phenotype: Large unpigmented areas
of hair with normally pigmented
patches. Skin of the animal follows this
pattern as well. Skin pattern is
irregular and asymmetrical.
There are two different types of piebalds: progressive piebald, and true
Figure 11 Jinx the marbled reverse stripe
piebald.
piebald mosaic (source: Jordyn Schirado)

Figure 12 Keeper the true and progressive pied

Keeper is both a true and progressive pied. She has lost almost all of
her light gray over time but she still has the dark spots on her ears, the
dark gucci spots, and the butt band. Believed that she has Kit-C and a
vitiligo mutation. This would result in not enough pigment stem cells
and not enough proliferation signals.
True Piebald
Instead of, for example,
8 initial cells that
become the foundation
for the pigment cells, it
is believed that
Kaleidoscope has 2
colonal groups instead.
We do not have enough
proliferation or
migration to fill in the

spaces between; he does not have enough stem cells. This is likely KitL (stem cell factor).
Figure 13 Kaleidoscope the true piebald

Figure 14 Pickle the true piebald

Pickle produces almost exclusively white mosaics. He is likely Kit-C,

which results in un-crisp borders. However if the Kit-C receptor is
mutated so that it does not let go of cell bound Kit-L, those cells will
hog that signal and the other stem cells will not get this signal.
Because of this, what looks like Kit-L can actually be Kit-C.

Figure 15 Ryu the piebald (source: Nikki Robinson)

Figure 16 Kiana, one of the few known true piebald creminos (source: Nikki
Robinson)

Progressive Piebald

Figure 18 Taz the progressive pied as a

joey

Figure 17 Taz the progressive

piebald

Figure 19 Taz the progressive pied as an

adult

Figure
20 Ryker
the progressive piebald (source:
Figure 21 Ryker as a joey
(source:
Gwen
Nikki Robinson)