Polar

The polar mutation is currently exclusively found in opal riardi. It only activates when an individual has ultra-bright plus melanism. If this mutation is absent, ultra-bright and melanism cancel one another out, preventing both from expressing themselves in the individual. Polar allows ultra-bright to whiten the main body fur coloration by two steps, while melanism simultaneously darkens. The polar mutation refers to its ability to harmonize these two pigment alterations, rather than negate them. Riardi use the analogy of a binary star system: two celestial bodies are bound by an unseen force of energy. They liken the polar mutation as the force between two stars, but in a microcosmic way within riardi. This mutation causes no adverse health effects.

Because polar harmonizes both melanism and ultra-bright, it behaves as follows by dictating where and how melanism and the ultra-bright mutation work together.

Darkened Body, Lightened Markings (Frosted Effect Present)

The main fur color is twice-darkened by melanism, the markings are twice-lightened by ultra-bright, and a frosted-black effect appears on the main fur color, with black shading from mid-shaft to tips.

Lightened Body, Darkened Markings (Frosted Effect Present)

The main fur color is twice-lightened by ultra-bright. The markings are twice-darkened by melanism. A frosted-black effect appears on the main fur color, with black shading from mid-shaft to tips like it does in the darkened body/lightened markings presentation.

Lightened Body, Darkened Markings (No Frost)

The riardi's main fur color is twice lightened by the ultra-bright mutation. The markings are twice-darkened by melanism but aren’t frosted.

*Darkened Body, Lightened Markings (No Frost)

The riardi's main fur color is twice-darkened by melanism, but it appears solidly dark- it is not frosted. The markings are twice-lightened by ultra-bright, with no frost effect.

Some riardi may inherit a defective copy of melanism when melanism co-presents with ultra-bright under polar. These individuals’ base fur color and/or markings have no frost effect whatsoever.

An extreme example of the polar expression could be a white-furred riardi with magenta markings that are frosted black.

Immunity to melanism: Some riardi inherit a genetic immunity to melanism. If they do, melanism will have no effect- any color which would have been darkened remains unchanged. Riardi who inherit both melanism and immunity to melanism cannot be born, as these two traits are directly oppositional.