Ratings of Eye Darkness Based on Adult Eye Colors:
1.00 BLACK
.75 BROWN, umber
.50 RED, gray, hazel, chestnut, sienna, russet
.25 ORANGE, pink, blue, green, bronze, brassy, copper, buff, tawny, olive, raw umber
.00 YELLOW, white, amber, silver, gold, pearl, cream
Rules for scoring eye darkness for species:
1. Each species is scored according to the lightest iris color reported. (It makes no difference if the color is used as a noun or an adjective; for example, “reddish brown” is scored as .50.)
2. If the lightest color reported is preceded by “dark,” it is scored one category higher (e.g., “dark brown” is scored as 1.00); if the lightest color reported is preceded by “light” or “pale,” it is scored one category lower (e.g., “light brown” is scored as .50).
Exceptions: (1) If the lightest eye color reported is in the .75 category, but the colors reported for the species also include “black,” the species is scored as 1.00. For example, “brown, dark brown” is scored as .75, but “brown, black” is scored as 1.00; (2) “bluish black” is scored as 1.00.
Average Eye Darkness [A.E.D.] : Ratings for all species are aggregated and averaged for each family, order, and class.
CLASS: MAMMALS (179 species) [A.E.D. = .497]
ORDER: Monotremata (1 species)
(Monotremes)
FAMILY: Tachyglossidae (1 species)
(Spiny Anteaters) Rating Eye Colors
Tachyglossus aculeatus, Short-nosed echidna .00 pale blue
ORDER: Marsupialia (1 species)
(Marsupials)
FAMILY: Macropodidae (1 species)
(Kangaroos, Wallabies) Rating Eye Colors
Macropus rufogriseus, Red-necked wallaby .50 glazed blue
ORDER: Insectivora (2 species) [A.E.D. = 1.00]
(Insectivores)
FAMILY: Soricidae (2 species) [A.E.D. = 1.00]
(Shrews) Rating Eye Colors
Blarina brevicauda, Northern short-tailed shrew 1.00 black
Cryptotis parva, American least shrew 1.00 black
ORDER: Dermoptera (1 species)
(Flying Lemurs)
FAMILY: Cynocephalidae (1 species)
(Flying Lemurs) Rating Eye Colors
Cynocephalus variegatus, Malayan flying lemur .00 yellow, gray
ORDER: Chiroptera (10 species) [A. E.D. = .775]
(Bats)
FAMILY: Pteropodidae (5 species) [A.E.D. = .550]
(Old World Fruit Bats) Rating Eye Colors
Pteropus giganteus, Indian flying fox .75 brown
P. gouldii, .50 light brown
P. medius, .50 gray
P. neohibernicus, Bismark flying fox .50 light brown
Cynopterus sphinx, Short-nosed fruit bat .50 hazel, brown
FAMILY: Vespertilionidae (5 species) [A.E.D. = 1.00]
(Evening Bats) Rating Eye Colors
Myotis lucifugus, Little brown myotis 1.00 black
M. sodalis, Indiana bat 1.00 black
Lasiurus borealis, Red bat 1.00 black
Eptesicus fuscus, Big brown bat 1.00 black
E. hottentotus, Long-tailed house bat 1.00 black
ORDER: Primates (62 species ) [A.E.D. = .387]
(Primates)
FAMILY: Cheirogaleidae (1 species)
(Mouse Lemurs, Dwarf Lemurs) Rating Eye Colors
Cheirogaleus major, Greater dwarf lemur 1.00 dark brown, very dark brown
FAMILY: Lemuridae (5 species) [A.E.D. = .200]
(Large Lemurs) Rating Eye Colors
Lemur catta, Ring-tailed lemur .25 rich orange
L. fulvus, Brown lemur .00 yellow, bluish green, red brown
L. macaco, Black lemur .25 orange
L. rubriventer, Red-bellied lemur .00 yellow
Hapalemur simus, Broad-nosed gentle lemur .50 dirty gray
FAMILY: Indriidae (2 species) [A.E.D. = .375]
(Leaping Lemurs) Rating Eye Colors
Propithecus diadema, Diademed sifaka .75 brown
Indri indri, Indri .00 golden yellow
FAMILY: Daubentoniidae (1 species)
(Aye-aye) Rating Eye Colors
Daubentonia madagascariensis, Aye-aye .00 ochre
FAMILY: Lorisidae (8 species) [A.E.D. = .281]
(Lorises, Bushbabies) Rating Eye Colors
Loris tardigradus, Slender loris .25 light hazel brown
Nycticebus coucang, Slow loris .00 golden
Perodicticus potto, Lemur potto .50 rich reddish brown
Galago alleni, Allen’s bushbaby .50 grayish brown, very dark brown
G. senegalensis, Lesser bushbaby .00 yellowish olive, light brownolive, light brown
Otolemur crassicaudatu, Grand galigo .25 olive, light brown
Euoticus elegantulus, Needle-clawed bushbaby .00 brownish gold, bright orange
Galagoides demidoff, Demidoff galago .75 dark sienna brown
FAMILY: Tarsiidae (2 species) [A.E.D. = .000]
(Tarsiers) Rating Eye Colors
Tarsius bancanus, Western tarsier .00 yellow-brown
T. spectrum, Celebes tarsier .00 yellowish, pale chestnut
FAMILY: Callitrichidae (4 species) [A.E.D. = .375]
(Marmosets, Tamarins) Rating Eye Colors
Cebuella pygmaea, Pygmy marmoset .00 ochre
Saguinus midas, Red-handed tamarin .50 red brown
Callimico goeldii, Goeldi’s marmoset .50 chestnut brown
Tamarinus illigeri, Red-moulted tamarin .50 red brown
FAMILY: Cebidae (9 species) [A.E.D. = .417]
(New World Monkeys) Rating Eye Colors
Aotus trivirgatus, Night monkey .00 yellow
Saimiri sciureus, Common squirrel monkey .75 brown
Pithecia monachus, Hairy saki .75 brown
P. pithecia, Pale-headed saki .00 yellow ochre
Cacajao calvus, Bald uakari .00 reddish yellow
C. rubicundus, Red uakari .25 light hazel
Ateles fusciceps, Brown-headed spider monkey 1.00 dark brown
Alouatta seniculus, Red howler .50 deep chestnut
Brachyteles arachnoides, Woolly spider monkey .50 hazel
FAMILY: Cercopithecidae (27 species) [A.E.D. = .472]
(Old World Monkeys) Rating Eye Colors
Macaca assamensis, Himalayan macaque .50 pale brown
M. cyclopis, Formosan rock macaque .00 yellowish brown
M. maura, Moor macaque .25 tawny olive, dark hazel
M. mulatta, Rhesus monkey .75 brown
M. nemestrina, Pigtail macaque .50 light brown
M. silenus, Liontail macaque .75 dark hazel
M. sinica, Toque macaque .50 hazel, brown
M. sylvanus, Barbary ape .50 hazel
Cynopithecus hecki, Heck’s macaque .50 light brown
C. niger, Crested black ape .50 hazel
C. tonkeanus, Tonkean black ape .50 deep hazel
Cercocebus aterrimus, Black mangabey .25 olive brown
C. atys, Sooty managabey .25 olive, cinnamon
C. torquatus, White-collared mangabey .50 gray, chestnut
Papio anubis, Olive baboon .75 dark hazel
P. cynocephalus, Yellow baboon .00 yellowish brown
P. hamadryas, Hamadryas baboon .25 light hazel, chestnut
Cercopithecus albogularus, Beirn monkey .50 chestnut
C. ascanius, Red-tailed guenos .75 brown
C. dianai, Diana monkey .50 gray
C. mona, Mona’s monkey .25 dull cinnamon
C. pogonias, Crowned guenon .50 reddish brown
C. preussi, Preuss’s monkey .75 very dark red
C. pygerythrus, Vervet monkey .50 light brown
Erythrocebus patas, Patas monkey .25 light hazel
Pygathrix roxellana, Snub-nosed monkey .50 gray
Presbytis entellus, Langur 1.00 dark brown
FAMILY: Pongidae (3 species) [A.E.D. = .333]
(Apes) Rating Eye Colors
Gorilla gorilla, Gorilla .00 golden
Pan troglodytes, Chimpanzee .25 dark golden brown, keen brown
Pongo pygmaeus, Orangutan .75 brown
ORDER: Carnivora (57 species ) [0E.D. = .465]
(Carnivores)
FAMILY: Canidae (9 species) [A.E.D. = .222]
(Dogs, Foxes) Rating Eye Colors
Canis aureus, Golden jackal .75 brown
C. latrans, Coyote .25 tawny
C. lupus, Gray wolf .00 yellow
C. mesomelas, Black-backed jackal .00 yellowish
C. rufus, Red wolf .00 yellow
Vulpes cinereoargenteus, Gray fox 1.00 dark brown
V. velox, Swift fox .00 yellowish brown
V. vulpes, Red fox .00 yellow, tawny
Dusicyon thous, Common zorro(crab-eating fox) .00 golden
FAMILY: Ursidae (4 species) [A.E.D. = .688]
(Bears) Rating Eye Colors
Ursus americanus, American black bear 1.00 dark gray, brown, dark brown, black
U. arctos, Brown bear/grizzly bear .00 golden, gray, brown
Thalarctos maritimus, Polar bear 1.00 black
Melursus ursinus, Sloth bear .75 brown
FAMILY: Procyonidae (5 species) [A.E.D. = .750]
(Raccoons) Rating Eye Colors
Bassariscus astutus, Ring-tailed cat 1.00 jet black
Procyon lotor, Common raccoon 1.00 black
Nasuella olivacea, Little coatimundi 1.00 dark brown
Potos flavus, Kinkajou .50 chestnut, dark brown
Bassaricyon gabbi, Bushy tailed olingo .25 cinnamon
FAMILY: Mustelidae (15 species) [A.E.D. = .983]
(Weasels, etc.) Rating Eye Colors
Mustela erminea, Stoat 1.00 jet black, black
M. frenata, Long-tailed weasel 1.00 black
M. lutreola, European mink 1.00 black
M. vison, American mink 1.00 black
Martes americana, American marten 1.00 black, jet black
M. pennanti, Fisher 1.00 jet black
Gulo gulo, Wolverine 1.00 black
Meles meles, Eurasian badger 1.00 blue-black
Taxidea taxus, American badger 1.00 black
Mephitis mephitis, Striped skunk 1.00 black
Spilogale gracilis, Western spotted skunk 1.00 black
S. putorius, Eastern spotted skunk 1.00 black
Lutra canadensis, Canadian otter 1.00 brown, black
Aonyx cinerea, Oriental small-clawed otter .75 brown
Enhydra lutris, Sea otter 1.00 dark brown
FAMILY: Viverridae (8 species) [A.E.D. = .219]
(Civets, Mongooses, etc.) Rating Eye Colors
Genetta genetta, Small spotted genet .00 amber
Herpestes fuscus, Indian brown mongoose .25 orange-red
H. smithi, Ruddy mongoose .25 orange-red
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Common palm civet .50 hazel brown
P. zeylonensis, Golden palm civet .25 light hazel
Viverra civetta, African civet .25 dark yellow, black
V. zibetha, Large Indian civet .00 yellowish
Viverricula indica, Small Indian civet .25 dark yellow, dark brown
FAMILY: Hyaenidae (1 species)
(Hyaenas) Rating Eye Colors
Crocuta crocuta, Spotted hyaena 1.00 dark brown
FAMILY: Felidae (15 species) [A.E.D. = .033]
(Cats) Rating Eye Colors
Felis caracal, Caracal .00 yellow, amber, green
F. chaus, Jungle cat .00 greenish yellow
F. concolor, Puma (cougar) .00 yellow, golden, gray , brown
F. lynx, Lynx .00 yellow, gray
F. margarita, Sand cat .00 yellow, amber
F. pardalis, Ocelot .50 reddish brown, brown
F. rufus, Bobcat .00 yellow-greenish
F. serval, Serval .00 yellow, greenish
F. silvestris, Wild cat .00 yellowish-green
Panthera leo, Lion .00 yellow
P. pardus, Leopard (panther) .00 pale yellow
P. tigris, Tiger .00 yellowish brown
P. unica, Snow leopard .00 golden
Neofelis nebulosa, Clouded leopard .00 light yellow
Acinonyx jubatus, Cheetah .00 yellowish brown
ORDER: Pinnipedia (3 species) [A.E.D. = .667]
(Seals, Sealions, etc.)
FAMILY: Odobenidae (1 species)
(Walrus) Rating Eye Colors
Odobenus rosmarus, Walrus .00 light bottle green
FAMILY: Phocidae (1 species)
(Seals) Rating Eye Colors
Mirounga leonina, Southern elephant-seal 1.00 dark brown
FAMILY: Otariidae (1 species)
(Sealions) Rating Eye Colors
Callorhinus ursinus, Northern fur seal 1.00 very dark brown
ORDER: Proboscidea (1 species)
(Elephants)
FAMILY: Elephantidae (1 species)
(Elephants) Rating Eye Colors
Elephas maximus, Indian elephant .75 muddy brown