The Silver Marten Breed
The Silver Marten breed is the result of naturally occuring "sports" in Standard Chinchilla litters. Early Chinchilla breeders at one time had introduced some black Tan bloodlines into the breed in hopes of improving the color and pattern of the breed, which resulted in the tan pattern genes being carried by these offspring. Some of these black and silver colored "sports" were saved and when crossed, bred true and the Silver Marten breed (named in 1924) was started. In 1927, the first working standard was adopted for the black and chocolate varieties and the first Silver Marten Club was chartered. In 1929 the blues were accepted and in 1933, the sable variety was approved. These are the same 4 varieties still shown today.
Black Silver Martens
Black Silver Martens are the most popular variety of the breed. The black should be a jet black color, with the black carrying as far down the hair shaft as possible, with sharply defined contrasting silver markings. The undercolor should be a dark slate blue. Eye color is a dark brown.
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Blue Silver Martens
Blue Silver Martens are the second most popular variety in most areas. The blue color should be an even dark blue overall. The eyes are to be blue-gray. The sharp markings in the blue variety are often slower to fully develop than in the blacks.
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Chocolate Silver Martens
Chocolate Silver Martens should be a dark rich chocolate, like semi-sweet rather than milk chocolate candy. The undercolor is a lighter chocolate, but only at the very base of the hair shaft. Eyes are brown. Chocolates have a tendency to fade badly, especially if exposed to sunlight.
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Sable Silver Martens
Sable Silver Martens are the variety least often seen at this time. The sables should be a medium sepia brown on the saddle, shading evenly down the sides to a lighter color. The ears, face, tail and outside of the feet and lower legs should be a very dark sepia brown, nearly black, providing a distinct contrast to the body color. Sables tend to become blotchy in color and also their body color usually continues to darken throughout their lifetime with each sucessive molt, reducing the contrast with the points. Correctly colored sables will be a silvery color at birth.
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