Hearing Dominant Jade, some breeders who have been in the hobby for a long time might conclude that this is the same mutation as before in the roseicollis species, the DM jade. But we will frown on the phenotype referred to as Fischeri dominant Jade. Because in fischeri the dominant jade phenotype has almost no observable differences.
This is in contrast to what happens with the DM Jade phenotype in roseicollis. That between males and females the difference is very evident. DM is taken from the word Dimorphic or Dimorphism, this is a term used to describe morphological or physical differences between two individuals of the same species, usually occurring between males and females.
Dimorphism is often seen in size, color, body shape, or certain structures. A common example of dimorphism is in the indian ring neck, where males always have a more pronounced ring neck when compared to females.
Another example is in agapornis canus/madagascar, males have a distinctly different gray coloration on the head, while females are entirely green. The appearance of lovebirds that should be monomorphism between males and females is difficult to distinguish to be distinguishable because the Dm jade allele has changed it.
And that is indeed the fact that occurs in the DM jade mutation, where there are differences in appearance between male and female birds.
And the DM jade mutation has indeed been registered in the mutabase table released by Ornito Genetics. This was once pointed out by the discoverer of the DM jade mutation when Miriam bisiacchi was first discovered.
“IMHO” Fischeri dominant jade is a bird with melanin reduction limited to the feet, nails and eyes.
Melanin reduction in the eyes, though, may be slight. This can be seen from the red appearance of the eyes when exposed to flash. The appearance of the eyes almost resembles cinnamon roseicollis.
This article will explain the characteristics of Fischer's Dominant Jade, distinguish the phenotype between male and female lovebirds, and also some tips for Dominant Jade breeding.
Characteristics of Dominant Jade Fischer
I have quoted earlier that the reduction is limited to the feet and eyes, so in general the phenotype of dominant Jade Fischeri will be similar to the wild type.
The only difference lies in the feet and eyes, the color of the feet of the dominant Jade Fischeri is red when exposed to over exposure, this is similar to what happens with the DEC (dark eye clear) mutation, it will appear dark when in available light, it will appear red when exposed to light from a flash.
The color of the feet and nails of Fischeri Jade is predominantly pale pink or flesh red, this resembles what happens with melanin mutation lines such as NSL ino and fallow.
Some breeders have found that there are phenotypic differences in male and female dominant Jade Fischeri which I will explain below:
Characteristics of male Dominant Jade Fischer
Male dominant Jade Fischeri will fully meet the basic characteristics I have quoted, the leg color is flesh red, while the eye color will appear reddish when exposed to excess light or flash. Characteristics like these are almost found in generations of male-dominant Jade Fischeri.
Characteristics of female Dominant Jade Fischer
The female-dominant Jade Fischeri is slightly different and inconsistent in later generations. The legs are light gray in color, with only a slight reduction here. Although sometimes you come across flesh-red legs, the average female dominant Jade Fischeri has light gray legs.
In the eyes there is very minimal reduction, so that to be observed you are required to stick a light source or flash right above the head as in the picture then you can see the reddish hue on the retina. You will not find this in the wild type.
Mode of Inheritance Dominant Jade Fischer
Information from several breeders who have conducted breeding tests, states that this bird has a dominant hereditary trait. This can be seen from the results of trials that always get dominant Jade Fischeri chicks even when paired with normal birds.
However, it can also be imperfectly dominant as in the violet, Euwing, which will get a mutant phenotype in F1 even when crossed with wild species.
It can also be multifactorial dominant as in the mottled and crested mutation in Agapornis roseicollis. This became unique when a breeder named Ramjem Maranan obtained a dominant Jade phenotype from a pair of wild-type personatus.
I also conducted interbreeding tests with the wild type and obtained dominant Jade Fischeri pups. The reason I suspect that this is DM jade is as follows.
Origin of Dominant Jade Fischer
There are breeders from Indonesia who also call this mutation DOM Jade, aka Dominant Jade. The basis for this naming is not known for sure.
Perhaps they took it from the inheritance pattern of the trait in this bird which is dominant, hence the name. It should be noted that this phenotype also appears in crosses with Lillianae or Nigrigenis lovebirds, where some hybrids also show legs with a flesh-red colo
Given that they have brown eyes and very little melanin, their crosses with lutino sometimes leave a reduced ratio in the eyes like DECino. As always, we can only wait for an explanation from Dirk on his official website. Will it be valid in time?