[Archaeopteryx.]

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xxxIn EARTHRISE, Aktego's appearances are based off of several different interlocking systems. To help make things accessible, all up to date information on Aktego genetics can be found on this page.

xxxGENETICS encompass much of an Aktego's appearance. Base colors, certain markings, tail shapes, and fur growth patterns, for example, are all passed down to offspring using a genetics-based system. Each parent has a chance to pass down a gene they may either display or carry, and it's all up to chance (or is it?) what their offspring may get.

xxxEPIGENETICS encompass the rest of an Aktego's appearance. Unlike genetics, epigenetics are a bit stranger—things such as where their parents came from, certain injuries, random mutations or special markings, or even the temperature their eggs were incubated at may influence an Aktego in surprising ways! Epigenetics are much more chaotic than genetics, providing a rare and fun chance to dramatically change the outcome of a nursery pairing or two.

xxxEXPRESSION edits are an optional add-on to an Aktego! Unlike genetics and epigenetics, which are mostly set in stone, expression edits can be applied or removed from an Aktego at any time. These edits are usually small and superficial, such as changes in an Aktego's expression, accessories, scars or missing body parts, etc. Background changes do not count as an expression edit and cannot be changed.

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Fur Growth Patterns
Tail Varieties
Bases and Dilutions
White Markings
Color Markings
Mutations

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xxx- "What about rarities?"

EARTHRISE has no rarity system!! Though certain mutations may be naturally more difficult to come by, there is no official rarity system nor are there plans to implement one. Players are encouraged to think about where their Aktego live and choose traits accordingly! (Or just collect what traits you enjoy the most!)

xxx- "How do eye colors work?"

Aktego eyes can be any color, including multi-colored, however, only their iris and pupil is visible and must be colored thus. Some give their Aktego abstract and strange eye colors, and others prefer to be more normal about it.

[Archaeopteryx.]

Fur Growth Patterns

xxxThe manner in which Aktego's fur growths is influenced by several genes, all of which are codominant with each other.

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Fur Length

Fur length is dictated by the gene (L/l), with short fur (L) being dominant over long fur (l).
Fur length primarily affects the neck and belly fur of an Aktego, with longhaired ones sporting a mane, while their hindquarters and flank remain generally the same length.
Fur length is co-dominant with curlyhaired and sparsehaired genes, and will affect expression of those.

Curly Fur

Curlyhair is dictated by the gene (Cu/cu) with non-curly (Cu) being dominant over curly (cu).

Curlyhaired Aktego's fur takes on a dramatically curly texture, often appearing somewhat like lamb fur from afar.
Curly hair is co-dominant with fur length and sparsehaired genes, and will affect expression of those.

Sparse Fur

Sparsehair is dictated by the gene (Sh/sh) with non-sparse (Sh) being dominant over sparse (sh)
Sparsehaired Aktego lose much of their undercoat, leaving remaining fur coarse and wirey and creating bald spots on the face, neck, armpits, front paws, and belly.
Sparehair is co-dominant with fur length and curlyhaired genes, and will affect expression of those.

Hairless

Hairless (Hr/hr) is a recessive gene (only shows when hrhr) that removes most fur on an Aktego, leaving behind only a peach-like fuzz. Curiously, this gene also invariably increases the expression of scales on an Aktego's body, and Aktego expressing this gene display larger patches of scales along the entirety of their body compared to their furred counterparts.

Aktego displaying this gene cannot display any other fur-related genes, nor any fur-related patterns. Skin color is based on fur base color.

[Archaeopteryx.]

Tail Varieties

xxxAktego display a wide variety of different tail shapes, all controlled by a single locus, (TT). All tail types are strictly dominant or recessive, and cannot be co-dominant. While mostly controlled by genetics, some tail varieties have alternative forms, which are controlled with epigenetics and pass on or appear only in certain scenarios.

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Wildtype/Leopard

Wildtype tails (also nicknamed leopard tails, due to their resemblance to a leopard gecko's tail) are large, thick, and soft to the touch, similarly in texture to the scales on an Aktego's cheeks. This gene is written as (T), and are dominant over all other tail varieties.

+armored is a variety of wildtype tails in which ridges form at the end of the tail and along the spine.

Orbtail

Recessive to wildtype but dominant to all other tail varieties, orbtailed Aktegoes are much shorter and more spherical than wildtype tails, only reaching about half the length but with the same thickeness. This gene is written as (to)

Thintail

Third most dominant, thintail is similar in appearance to wildtype tails, but with half the circumference. Aktego with thintail don't do well on their own, due to their inability to store as much fat as wildtype tails, and are unlikely to lead solitary lives. This gene is written as (tt).

Leaftail

A fancy mutation, leaftailed Aktego have flat tails with curious detailing that mimics a leaf. This gene is most often found spaceside, and rarely seen in planetside Aktego. This gene is dominant to prehensile and whiptail, and written as (tl)
+cactus is a variety of leaftail that thickens the tail, adding flat, stout spikes and shortening the length of the tail. This is most likely to mutate in planetside Aktego.

Prehensile

Second most recessive tail variety, prehensile tails are long, thick and heavy, naturally coiling in on themselves. These tails can act much as a second limb, and are a useful adaptation for those living in environments where climbing is necessary. This gene is written as (tp).

Whiptail

Whiptail is the most recessive tail variety. This tail is whip-thin and easily twice as long as the individual's body, and is most often seen in planetside Aktego who use this tail as a built-in weapon. This gene is written as (tw).

+rattle is a variety of whiptails which add a rattle to the end of the tail. This variety is most often seen spaceside.

Nub

An epigenetic tail that can occur with any tail type. Can be passed down, or can occur from an injury or other significant trauma that would cause an Aktego to drop their tail. Dropped Aktego tails do not regenerate, and have a 25% chance to be carried onto their offspring. Nongenetic marker is +nub

Frills

A random genetic mutation that can occur in all Aktegoes, no matter the tail type. This mutation adds a frill to the back of the Aktego's head, and two matching ones at the base of the tail. This mutation has a 25% chance of passing to any offspring and is marked with +frills

[Archaeopteryx.]

Bases

All Aktego have one out of four bases upon which all dilutions and markings interact with. These base colorations are strictly dominant-recessive, and none are co-dominant with each other.

Generally speaking, tail markings (unless altered by another gene) will be the color of the base coat, with a lighter base underneath.

Order of dominance is;
B > b > bl > br

(B) is known as black and gives the pelt a rich, dark color. Any tint is legal, so long as the color is easily readable as black. Scale bases tend to range in the gray zone.
(b), or chocolate, is a rich, reddish dark brown color, with a matching dark orange to orange tail base.
(bl), or cinnamon, is a light brown bordering on tan, with a similar tail base.
(br), or ginger, is a bright orange to tinted tan, with a pale orange to cream tail base.

Examples
black | chocolate | cinnamon | ginger

Genetic Dilute

This form of dilute is, as its name suggests, genetic, and is able to be passed down to potential offspring. This dilution lightens the base coat and adds a slight color tint.

Order of dominance is;
D > d

Dilute is a recessive gene, and will only display if (dd).

Blue is the dilute form of black, and lightens the coat to be gray to a very grayish-blue, with a slightly more blue tail base.
Lilac is the dilute form of chocolate, and lightens the coat to be a pale gray tan with a slight red hue. Tail base tends to range from light peach to near-white.
Fawn is the dilute form of cinnamon, and lightens the coat to be a pale, orange-tinted tan, with a lighter tail base.
Ivory is the dilute form of ginger, and lightens the coat to a near-white cream color, with a similar tail base.

Examples

blue | lilac | fawn | ivory

Temperature Dilute

This form of dilute is epigenetic, and is unable to be passed down to offspring. Instead, the display of this gene is dependent on the temperature that eggs are incubated at, with higher temperatures more likely to prevent colors from forming properly, developing into a separate version of dilute, with tinted fur and washed out markings. The effects of this gene can stack with genetic dilute, turning the Aktego's fur a tinted near-white.

Lavender is the dilute form of black, giving the fur and scales a soft, pastel blue-purple hue.
Dusk is the dilute form of chocolate, with pale purple fur and scales.
Dawn is the dilute form of cinnamon, with pastel pink fur and scales.
False albino is the dilute form of ginger, with translucent white fur and scales. Unlike genetic albino, markings can still display on false albino, and eyes can be any color.

Examples

lavender | dusk | dawn | false albino | double dilute

Dun

Dun is a dilution gene that changes most of the coat to a golden hue, with only primitive markings on the spine, ears, joints, and tail markings remaining the original base color. The particular golden hue depends on the base coat (displayed, for example, are black dun, cinnamon dun, lilac dun, and dusk dun.)

Order of dominance;
Dn > dn

Dun is a dominant gene, and displays if (DnDn/dn).

Example

[Archaeopteryx.]

Appaloosa

Ap > ap

Appaloosa is a recessive trait that turns an Aktego's tail white, and adds a lighter colored marking to their rear. This marking may be one solid color or broken up by spots. This marking does not appear on false albinos.

This marking was suggested by craig? (629149)

Cat Tracks

+cat tracks

Cat tracks is an epigenetic trait with a 25% chance of passing to offspring, even if offspring does not display white. This marking adds spots within any white marking that appear as if tracks were made within the white.

Example

This marking was suggested by kyeza (803669)

Color Leeching

Color-leeching is a single gene located in the (CC) locus that progressively leads to more and more color loss. While this primarily affects only an Aktego's fur, it can also affect the scale coloration and intensity as well.

Order of dominance is;
C > cs > cp > c > ca

(C) is dominant and leads to no color loss.

(cs), nicknamed smoke, is dominant to other forms of color leeching but recessive to (C). This gene leeches the color from the underside of an Aktego's fur, giving it a light gradient. The color of the underside depends on the base and dilutions present.

(cp), nicknamed point, is recessive to smoke, and dominant to chinchilla and albino. This gene leeches the color from the majority of the coat, leaving only the back and shoulders, face, and limbs the original color of the pelt.

(c), nicknamed chinchilla, is dominant only to albino. Aktego displaying this gene have almost no color in their pelt, with only the back and shoulders remaining the original color. Scales may also begin growing more pale, or may remain the original color.

(ca), or genetic albino, is the most recessive form of the color leeching gene. This gene removes all color from the pelt, eyes, and tail, turning the coat a pale translucent white, turning the scales pink to white, and turning eyes red to red-purple. No markings can display on genetically albino Aktego.

Examples

smoke | point | chinchilla | true albino

Okapi

Okp > okp

Okapi is a recessive gene that adds white markings similar to that of an okapi on an aktego's face and legs. This marking can show a slight dark countershading along the edges of the white markings, though it isn't always seen.

Example

This marking was suggested by knickknacks (815546)

Piebald

Piebald is a complex gene that creates small to large connected patches of white on an Aktego's fur and scales.

Order of dominance is;
W > ws > w > wsm

W, dominant white, erases all color in an Aktego's pelt, leaving them completely white with no markings. Eyes may be any color.
(wsws) creates large patches of white that cover 50%-99% of an Aktego's body.
(wsw) creates small patches of white that cover 1%-50% of an Aktego's body.
(ww) displays no piebaldism.
wsmwsm, aka salmiak is a completely recessive gene that only displays if homozygous. This gene adds roaning similar to finnish mutation in cats.

Examples

extreme piebald | piebald

Roan

+roan

Roan is an epigenetic trait with a 25% chance of passing to offspring, even if offspring does not display white. This marking adds small spots within any white marking that appears similar to roaned white in dogs. Spots can be dense or scattered.

Example

Star

+star

Star is an epigenetic trait with a 25% chance of passing to offspring. This trait adds small, star-like spots throughout the body of an Aktego, and may or may not add a large star marking to the forehead.

Example

[Archaeopteryx.]

Bandit

+bandit

Bandit is an epigenetic trait that has a 25% chance of passing to offspring. This trait creates dark spotting around the eyes that resemble a bandit's mask, this marking can be as intricate or as simple as desired and can cover up to the whole face and part of the neck, so long as spots around the eyes remain. This trait can also add dark, glove-like markings to the front paws.

Example

This marking was suggested by kyeza (803669)

Brindling

Br > brm > brw > brt

Brindling is a recessive gene that adds striping to an aktego's coat. This striping can be slightly darker than an aktego's base coat, or slightly lighter, but is never pure black or white (unless displayed on a black or very light coat).

Br displays no brindling.
brm, or mackerel brindle, displays thin-to-thick vertical stripes in an aktego's fur.
brw, or whirlpool brindle, displays thick-to-thin stripes in an aktego's fur originating in a single point in the center of their side, appearing almost as a target or whirlpool.
brt, or tapir brindle, displays thin to thick horizontal stripes in an aktego's fur.

Examples
mackerel | whirlpool | tapir

This gene was suggested by craig? [629149]

Frog

Fr > fr

Frog is a dominant gene that displays as thick bands and spots ranging up the length of the tail, similar to poison frog spots. Markings of this gene can either be lighter than the base coat, or darker.

Example

This marking was suggested by razr (1021614)

Leopard

Leo > leo

Leopard is the default/wildtype Aktego scale patterning and is recessive to other tail markings, and will only display if no other tail markings are present (unless otherwise stated). This gene displays incomplete dominance, with (LeoLeo) displaying patterns similar to a leopard gecko's wildtype tail, with thick bands of a lighter color and dark spots. (Leoleo) displays bands of dark spots, and (leoleo) displays no markings at all.

Example 1 | example 2

Owl/False Eyes

Owl > owl

Owl adds false eyes to the sides of tails with a contrasting or complimentary color inside. A lighter color or the same color may also frame the black markings. This gene is dominant and displays if OwlOwl/owl.

Example

Radioactive

Rad > rad

Radioactive is a gene with incomplete dominance that adds bright and colorful markings to the scales of an Aktego. Eyes often tend to become brighter in hue as well.
The colors that are displayed with the radioactive gene seemed to be picked entirely at random (or at an artist's discretion), but do seem to be somewhat influenced by a radioactive parent's colors.

If Radrad, only small bits of bright coloration are shown, most often in and around other markings that present on the tail. Only one bright color can be displayed.
If radrad, the entire scale coloration base becomes bright and colorful, and can display potentially unlimited colors.

normal example | extreme example

Red Panda

Rdp > rdp

Red panda adds dark sable and a white mask similar to that seen in a red panda. The sabling can be solid, or can display ticking of the base color underneath. This marking is recessive and only displays if rdprdp.

example

This gene was suggested by Arithmedic [1064661]

Sooty/Sable/Charcoal

St > st > sta > stc

Sooty is a gene that adds a dark ombre affect to the head, neck, shoulders, and tail tip. This marking can either match the base coat, or be darker. Lighter fur speckling or scales may also frame the sooty markings.

St is dominant and displays sooty, which is always lighter than black. Markings are limited to tail tip, face, neck, and shoulders.
st displays no sooty markings, and is recessive to sooty but dominant to charcoal.
sta, sable, is recessive and adds clearly defined borders to the marking, rather than a smooth gradient.
stc, sooty charcoal, is completely recessive and displays sooty charcoal, which is darker and more extreme than sooty. This marking can display down the spine as well.

Examples
sooty | sooty charcoal

Suntouched / Moontouched

+suntouched/+moontouched

These two epigenes work similarly to temperature dilutes, and will occasionally appear in eggs incubated in the right temperatures.

Suntouched appears in aktego incubated in warm temperatures, adding bright, fiery markings to the tips of their tail and along their limbs. Though this marking normally only displays in reds/oranges/creams/white, with the presence of radioactive, this marking can take on a multitude of different hues and coloration.

Moontouched appears in aktego incubated in cold temperatures. This marking adds a soft, silvery stripe along the length of an aktego, and a silver to white spot on their forehead.

As both of these genes are temperature dependant, they may not be able to display if some other genes are present, such as moontouched + temperature dilute or suntouched + temperature melanistic.

Examples
suntouched | moontouched

This marking was suggested by HarpyHarpy (1104942)

Trochili

+trochili

Trochili is an epigenetic marking often present in Aktego living in warm environments. This gene presents as a brilliant marking of any color covering an Aktego's neck and ear fluff.

This marking was suggested by Thani (509675)

Wasp

Wp > wp

Wasp adds faint markings resembling a wasp to the scales of an Aktego. This marking displays under all other markings, if present. Wasp is not limited to yellowjacket wasps. This marking is recessive and shows if (wpwp).

Example

This marking was suggested by feverrr (412872)

[Archaeopteryx.]

Mutations

xxxWhile there is no strict rarity system in EARTHRISE, to keep some things exciting, there are a number of traits that are only possible to acquire via the auction system, or, rarely, through nursery pairings. These traits will not be seen in adopts, or in customs. No mutations are able to pass to offspring.

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Chimera

Chimera is a mutation in which an Aktego displays two different sets of genomes, usually resulting in patchy spots of fur where the genomes differ. Unlike somatic, which it can be mistaken for, both shown phenotypes can display different markings, traits, dilutions, base coats, etc.

Example

Janus

Janus is a mutation that either adds a second head to the body of an Aktego, or adds a second face to the head of an Aktego. While this trait is generally lethal in most other animals, the Aktego's unique adaptable nature allows them to live otherwise normally.

Example

Polymelia

Polymelia is a mutation that adds extra limbs or tails to an Aktego, these extra body parts can be functional or non-functional, but do not affect quality of life.

Example

Somatic

Sometimes mistaken for chimera, somatic occurs when a gene malfunctions in a single, localized spot, such as turning a spot from non-dilute to dilute. All other markings display as normal.

Example