coat patterns
Fabric design varieties
Coat patterns describe the distribution of colors and markings on an animal's fur or hair, particularly in dogs, cats, and horses.
Common patterns include solid (one color throughout), tabby (striped or swirled), brindle (tiger-like streaking), piebald or pinto (large irregular patches), and merle (mottled coloring).
Breeders and registries use specific terminology: The puppy has a classic tuxedo pattern.
Pattern genetics can be complex, with some combinations linked to health issues.
- tiger stripesParallel dark bands on pelage
- stripesParallel linear markings
- rosettesCircular ornamental clusters
- spotsDetects or marks
- calicoPatchy-coated cat type
brindle · tuxedo cat · camouflage · dominant traits · tortoiseshell · feline · bicolor · countershading · tabby · domestic cat · wild type · ticking · albinism · melanism · solids · pinto · paint horse · fur
- variationgenetic diversity, polymorphism, geographic variation, subspecies, eye color
- anatomybrain, heart, bones, liver, stomach
- patternspattern, chevron, geometric pattern, stripes, plaid
- animal drawing
- pedigree recordspedigree chart, ancestry records, bloodlines, genetic lineage, family tree
- animal geneticsallele, chromosome, dominant gene, recessive gene, dominant traits
coat patternsplain
Basic and unremarkable
monochrome · solid · unpatterned · solid color · single color
coat patternsunadorned
Lacking decoration or ornament
unembellished · blank · featureless · unmarked · bare