Evolutionary and phylogeographic views on Mc1r and Asip variation in mammals

The purpose of this article is to provide basic knowledge about the Mc1r-Asip system that promotes the evolution of coat color in mammals, and to stimulate genetic, ecological, and phylogeographic studies focusing on color variation in natural populations. The topics reviewed herein include: the genetic system of the Mc1r and Asip genes related to phenotypic variation; the evolutionary implications of the genetic features recorded in their nucleotide sequences; and the validity of surveys in the wild of genetic variations in coat color, which would facilitate a better understanding of the genetic system, ecological meaning, natural history, and taxonomic reevaluation of species and local populations.