Dilute in the Turquoise Parakeet
Dilute is an autosomal recessive mutation that reduces melanin density across the whole bird, softening dark markings into a lighter, washed-out version of the wild-type pattern without removing pigment as completely as Ino does. It needs two copies to show — one copy makes an invisible "split" carrier, and this applies equally to cocks and hens since it isn't sex-linked.
What is the Dilute mutation?
Dilute is logged in this calculator's reference data as an autosomal recessive melanin mutation, described as a general reduction of pigments. Dilute-family mutations are common across parrot genetics and work by partially compromising the same melanin-transport machinery that Ino disables almost completely — the difference is one of degree, not mechanism: Dilute thins the pigment rather than erasing it.
How it works, in plain terms
Melanin is normally deposited densely into the feather structure, producing the wild type's crisp dark markings and rich green base. Dilute reduces how much melanin gets laid down without stopping production outright, so the bird ends up with an overall softer, paler version of its normal pattern — markings are still present but faded, rather than gone. This distinguishes Dilute from Ino, which removes melanin almost entirely.
Autosomal recessive inheritance, explained
Dilute sits on an ordinary autosome, not the Z chromosome, so cocks and hens inherit and can carry it identically. As a recessive trait, it takes two copies to show:
- One copy (split) — the bird looks completely normal but can pass the mutation to offspring.
- Two copies (visual) — the bird visibly shows the diluted, softened coloring.
Genotype → phenotype
| Genotype | Appearance | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| dil⁺ / dil⁺ | Normal | Cocks & hens |
| dil⁺ / dil | Normal — split for Dilute | Cocks & hens |
| dil / dil | Visual Dilute | Cocks & hens |
Sources & honesty note
The inheritance type, symbol, and category for Dilute in Neophema Pulchella come from this calculator's own compiled reference library. The plain-language explanation of partial melanin reduction above draws on well-established, cross-species psittacine genetics; it has not been verified line-by-line against Neophema-pulchella-specific photographs. See the full references page for this project's other sources.