Breed Description
Harlequins are recognized in eight color varieties, combined into two groups:
JAPANESE
MAGPIES
Black Blue Chocolate Lilac
Black Blue Chocolate Lilac
Harlequins are considered a medium sized breed with commercial body type. They must weigh
between 6lbs, 8 oz and 9lbs, 8oz as seniors to be shown. They should have a well-rounded,
smooth, and well filled body with medium bone.
depending on the group), the other ear the "marking color" (black, blue, chocolate, or lilac,
depending on the variety) from tip to base. See exapmle below:
between 6lbs, 8 oz and 9lbs, 8oz as seniors to be shown. They should have a well-rounded,
smooth, and well filled body with medium bone.
depending on the group), the other ear the "marking color" (black, blue, chocolate, or lilac,
depending on the variety) from tip to base. See exapmle below:
A perfect Harlequin will have the entire head vertically divided in color, with the 2 colors meeting in
a "line" in the center of the face, between the eyes. On the ideal rabbit, the "line" where the 2
colors meet will run the full length of the face from the base of the ears to the tip of the nose, be
centered in the middle of the face, and be perfectly straight. The color on each side of the "line"
will extend all the way to the edges of the cheeks. There will be no brindling or stray intermixing of
the two colors. The "base colored" ear wil attach to the "marking colored" side of the head, and
the "marking colored" ear will attach to the "base colored" side of the head. See example below:
a "line" in the center of the face, between the eyes. On the ideal rabbit, the "line" where the 2
colors meet will run the full length of the face from the base of the ears to the tip of the nose, be
centered in the middle of the face, and be perfectly straight. The color on each side of the "line"
will extend all the way to the edges of the cheeks. There will be no brindling or stray intermixing of
the two colors. The "base colored" ear wil attach to the "marking colored" side of the head, and
the "marking colored" ear will attach to the "base colored" side of the head. See example below:
On a perfect Harlequin, the fore legs will split in color, and will be one continuous color from the tips of the toes up the chest to
where the neck meets the chest. The color on the forelegs and chest will alternate to the colors found on the face, so that the
"marking colored" foreleg and chest-half will be under the "base colored" side of the face, and the "base colored" foreleg and
chest half will be under the "marking colored" half of the face. See example below:
where the neck meets the chest. The color on the forelegs and chest will alternate to the colors found on the face, so that the
"marking colored" foreleg and chest-half will be under the "base colored" side of the face, and the "base colored" foreleg and
chest half will be under the "marking colored" half of the face. See example below:
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Ideally, a perfect Harlequin will have alternation of color between the fore and hind legs. Meaning, if the rabbit has a
base-colored foreleg on its left, it will have a marking-colored hind leg on its left. Example coming soon.
base-colored foreleg on its left, it will have a marking-colored hind leg on its left. Example coming soon.
When viewed from the side, the body of a Harlequin should have 5-7 cleanly defined patches of color, alternating between the
base-color and the marking color. In side view there patches should resemble the rays of a rising sun. From above (looking
down at the rabbits back), the rabbit should appear striped, checkerboarded, or a balanced combination of the two.
base-color and the marking color. In side view there patches should resemble the rays of a rising sun. From above (looking
down at the rabbits back), the rabbit should appear striped, checkerboarded, or a balanced combination of the two.
