Imperial Winter Whites

[Jaybee]

Can anyone show me what an imperial winter white looks like? I have heard of them but I havent seen any pictures.

Winter White Genetics

Also, the imperial gene is homozygous lethal. No defective babies are actually born, though. Any babies which would have received two imperial genes (one from each parent or about 25% of the litter) will die in the womb and not be born. This is not generally considered a problem since it is believed that this may actually aid the mother both by decreasing the litter size and by giving her added protein and nutrition during pregnancy. Update: The imperial winter white gene mutation is now believed extinct.

[Gizmodo ^_^]

I Have never heard of imperial winter whites either :S

[Jaybee]

If I google it I find people talking about them but I cant find any pictures.

[Hamtastic]

Alice BackGround Info

"Normal: Dark gray back but almost white belly, with black dorsal stripe
Sapphire: Purple-gray back but almost white belly, with gray dorsal stripe
Normal Pearl: White back and belly, with several dark gray hairs along the back bone
Normal Imperial: White and dark gray back, and quite white belly
Sapphire Pearl: White back and belly, with several purple-gray hairs along the back bone
Sapphire Imperial: White and purple-gray back, and quite white belly"

Types of Hamster
"The Winter White Russian exists in the normal colour of dark grey with a jet black dorsal stripe and also exists in Sapphire (purple/grey with ivory belly), Imperial (with a whiter belly) and Pearl (white with coloured hairs ticked through)."

[Jaybee]

Do they have a dorsal stripe? I would love to see pictures.
Basically the only difference is a white belly?
++thanks!

[genevieve]

Apparently these are all imperials:






From HERE
I didn't read the whole thread though, so I'm not certain...

[Hamtastic]

From what I was reading, all Winter Whites should have 3 stripes: one along their back bone, and two more along the edges of the color gradient on their sides. Campbells would have only one stripe (along their backbone).

[Vectis Hamstery]

In the UK, the only recognised mutations of winter white colour/pattern are: sapphire, marbled and pearl, plus normal which is the original 'wild' colour. The list of recognised mutations is found in Appendix C of the NHC handbook

From reading the California Hamster Association website and standards, it appears that imperial is an "unstandardized winter white colour/pattern", so I presume it is recognised as arising in pure winter white. There is no description (and also no mention of marbled WWs). Maybe a US member has come across these if they are around at shows there?

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

In the UK, the only recognised mutations of winter white colour/pattern are: sapphire, marbled and pearl, plus normal which is the original 'wild' colour. The list of recognised mutations is found in Appendix C of the NHC handbook

From reading the California Hamster Association website and standards, it appears that imperial is an "unstandardized winter white colour/pattern", so I presume it is recognised as arising in pure winter white. There is no description (and also no mention of marbled WWs). Maybe a US member has come across these if they are around at shows there?

I'm going to a CHA show in a few weeks, but as far as the CHA knows, the imperial gene is believed to be extinct. What are marbled WWs? As far as I know, they haven't been seen over here, but I'll look on the 16th at the show I'm going to, and I'll talk to Linda Price about them while volunteering at the CHA booth.

NHC Exhibition Standards - Dwarf (Any Other Species) - National Hamster Council -- they should really update this page.

Edit:: went ahead and sent an email to Linda asking her about the marbled WWs. i'm anxiously awaiting her reply. it fits in with the rest of the color coat questions i have been asking her pertaining to hybrids.

Edit 2:: She has never personally seen a merle WW. The merle pattern was found in the colony of a trustworthy British show breeder.

[Hamtastic]

They need to do an East Coast show =(