INHERITANCE MODELS OF NORTH-AMERICAN RED FOX COAT COLOR

The monohybrid and two dihybrid models of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) coat -color inheritance were evaluated using phenotypic frequency data avai lable in the fur trade literature. The monohybrid model fit 62% (N = 2 1) of the samples from the Northwest Territories and the insular and c oastal parts of Alaska. The Warwick-Hanson (allelic interaction) and m odified Iljina (dominance modifier) models fit 97% (N = 133) of the sa mples from other regions. We favor the Warwick-Hanson model over the m odified Iljina (Haldane) model with its restrictive assumption that th e B locus is fixed for single allele. The results of some of Iljina's experiments suggest that a part of her silver-phase breeding stock was misidentified as to phenotype. If that was the case, a modifier locus is obviated and the Iljina model is identical with that of Warwick an d Hanson.