Rhino mutants could previously be obtained from a small resource colony at The Jackson Laboratory. Their introduction into the production facility means that these mutants will be more readily available to the scientific community. Rhino homozygotes are phenotypically similar to hairless homozygotes, but no hair regeneration occurs in rhino mutants. The name rhino was derived from the extremely thickened and wrinkled skin of this mutant. Rhino displays extensive hyperkeratosis and subepidermal cysts.
Rhino skin contains an unusual triester wax.
It was sent to The Jackson Laboratory in 1951 and maintained by M. Dickie. It is now at generation F89. Because each of these alleles is maintained in a unique inbred strain, the best controls for the hairless or rhino mutants are the heterozygous haired sibs of the same inbred strain. They may have rudimentary mammary glands, but this has not been thoroughly studied. The Jackson Laboratory.