Greenwood Chinchillas
History of Chinchillas -
Violet
Also known as "Sullivan violet" or "Afro violet".
The first violet chinchilla appeared not in the United States as many of them have - but in Rhodesia, South Africa in 1960.
The original animal was a male that displayed a lack of black tipping to its fur and a distant violet fur colour, the belly was still a clear sharp white. When bred this animal produced many offspring, which proved to be carriers for violet - as when crossed together more violets were produced,
This chinchilla and all its offspring were purchased by Lloyd Sullivan of Sullivan Ranch of California.
At this time there was a trade embargo between the two countries so the herd were transported from Rhodesia to neighbouring countries before being shipped to the states.
These were then bred and improved and became know as Sullivan Violets and were first shown in 1967.
An additional violet chin, named the Young Lavender-Brown appeared in 1969 at the ranch of Bobby Young in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Violet is a recessive colour and for te colour to be displayed within and animal two violet genes must be present (homozygous). Heterozygous Violet (only one violet gene) look like normal animals and are called carriers - when bred to another carrier or full violet they may produce violet kits.
Violets can be very difficult to breed to keep a clear sharp blue colour - there are two distinct types generally bred today. One type as preferred for ht English show table shows clear and blue, having an obvious lilac/violet tint to the fur. The other is a dull steely grey and does not show as well compared to the first type.
To increase the quality and density of the animals violets should always be mated to 'blue' standard carrying carriers to increase the fur strength and reinforce the colour. The belly fur should always remain clear and white though there is a tendency through bad breeding for them to have yellowish tinge to the belly fur.