Critically Endangered Blue-Eyed Lemur Born at Florida Zoo

A zoo in Florida welcomes the birth of an adorable blue-eyed black lemur, one of the world’s most critically endangered primates. Announced on Facebook by the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the primate is said to be the second-ever blue-eyed black lemur to be born at the facility. The lemur will stay in a private area to be cared for by its parents until it is old enough to integrate with the other lemurs in the group.

Blue-eyed black lemurs are sexually dichromatic, meaning that males and females have very different appearances. Males are totally black while females are reddish-brown to grayish-orange. When they're born, babies have brown fur that blends in with their mother. As they get older, the fur on male lemurs will eventually turn black. They are the only primates, other than humans, that can consistently have blue eyes. Blue eyes are uncommon in the wild because they offer less protection from the sun than eyes with darker irises. They weigh about 5 pounds (2.4 kilograms) and are about 38 inches (1 meter) long. They have long, bushy tails that they will often keep high in the air as they move around.