Orange: a plumage color mutation accompanied by semi-lethality in Japanese quail

A new plumage color mutant, orange, in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) was characterized by the same plumage pattern as in the wild type but with diluted pigmentation on the whole body. Light reddish-brown and light black are predominant instead of heavy brown and heavy black in the wild type. Although the eye color of the adult orange mutant was somewhat similar to that of the wild type, it showed a reddish color when held to the light. Fertility of the orange mutant was normal (97.8%), but hatchability was significantly lower than that of the wild type (72.8% versus 93.5%) because of the increased prehatching mortality. Moreover, posthatch mortality within 5 weeks of age was greatly increased in the orange mutant over that of the wild type (60.4% versus 8.4%). Genetic analysis revealed that the mutant plumage is controlled by an autosomal recessive gene. There is a possibility that the orange is homologous to the previously reported cinnamon mutation.