A List of Animal Eye Colors
    Copyright © 1997 by Morgan Worthy
 
    ŠŠŠŠ
 
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.
     - - - - - - - - - - -
Mean Eye Darkness [0E.D.] : Ratings for all species are aggregated and averaged for each family, order, and class.
 
 
CLASS: AMPHIBIANS    (181 species)    [A.E.D. = .112]
 
 
 
        ORDER:  Anura     (136 species)     [A.E.D. = .050]
                                      (Frogs)
 
 
FAMILY:  Leiopelmatidae        (1 species)    
        (Tailed Frogs, New Zealand Frogs)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Ascaphus truei,  American bell toad    .00    yellow, cream, hazel
 
FAMILY:  Discoglossidae        (3 species)    [A.E.D. = .000]
        (Discoglossid Frogs)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Alytes obstetricans, Midwife toad    .00    gold, green-gold, brown, chocolate
    Bombina. bombina, Fire-bellied toad    .00    gold,  brown
    B. maxima    .00    golden
 
FAMILY:  Pipidae        (1 species)
        (Clawed, Surinam Toads)        Rating    Eye Colors    Xenopus laevis, African clawed toad    .00    yellow, muddy brown
 
 
FAMILY:  Pelobatidae        (5 species)    [A.E.D. = .000]
         (Spadefoot                                        Rating    Eye Colors
    Megophrys boulengeri    .00    golden, olive, brown
    M. minor        .00    gold, scarlet
    Scaphiopus couchii, Couch’s spadefoot    .00    yellow, green-yellow, reddish, black
    S. hammondii, Central Plains spadefoot    .00    yellow, orange, black
    S. holbrookii, Hermit spadefoot    .00    golden, buff, green, black
 
FAMILY:  Bufonidae        (28 species)    [A.E.D. = .027]
        (Toads)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Bufo alvarius, Colorado River toad    .00    yellow, cream buff, tawny, russet, red
    B. americanus, American toad    .00    yellow, buff
    B. arenarum, South American sand-toad    .00    silver, green, pink
    B. bobeas, Northwestern toad    .00    yellow, orange-yellow, orange, black
    B. bufo, European toad    .00    gold, green, brown
    B. californicus, Southern California toad    .00    yellow, black
    B. canorus, Yosemite toad    .00    yellow, buff, bronze, black
    B. cognatus, Great Plains toads    .25    pink, cinnamon, black
    B. compactilis, Spade-footed toad    .00    yellow, buff, green, brown
    B. debilis, Little green toad    .00    ocheous, buff, black
    B. exsul, Black toad        .00    yellow, green, black
    B. fowleri, Fowler’s toad    .00    yellow, black
    B. halophilus, California toad    .00    metallic yellow
    B. hemiophrys, Canadian toads    .00    yellow, green, black
    B. insidior, Sonoran toad        .00    yellow, buff, black
    B. lentiginosus,    .00    metallic yellow
    B. marinus, Giant toad    .00    gold, green, russet
    B. microscaphus, Cape toad    .00    pale gold, light yellowish gray, silver
    B. punctatus, Spotted toad    .00    yellow, black
    B. quercicus, Oak toad        .00    yellow, cream, black
    B. tibetanus        .00    golden, black
    B. valliceps, Nebulous toad    .00    yellow, gold, green, sepia, coppery red
    B. viridis, Green toad    .25    green, dark brown
    B. woodhousii, Rocky Mtn. toad    .00    yellow, buff, black
    Peltaphryne fluviatica,    .00    gold, green, black
    P. fustiger,    .25    green
    P. guentheri,    .00    gold, black
    P. longinasus,    .00    yellow, green
    
FAMILY:  Leptodactylidae        (29 species)    [AE.D. = .103]
         (Leptodactylid Frogs)                       Rating    Eye Colors
    Calyptocephalus quoyi, Gay’s frog    .00    silver, gold, brown
    Dendrobates tinctorius, S. American poison frog    1.00    dark brown
    Eleutherodactylus abbotti,    .00    silver, greenish
    E. antillensis,    .50    red
    E. cavernicola,    .25    bronzy, red-brown
    E. cooki,        .00    white, gold, black
    E. coqui,        .00    golden, bronzy, green, tan
    E. cundalli,    .00    gold, green, brown
    E. eneidae,    .00    gold, green, gray, black
    E. flavescens,    .00    golden, black
    E. grabhami,     .00    golden, brown
    E. grahami,      .00    gold, dark brown
    E. griphus,      .00    gold, red-brown
    E. gryllus,        .00    gold, red-brown
    E. heminota,    .25    copper, reddish
    E. leoncei,        .25    green, brown
    E. martinicensis,    .00    golden brown, silver, gray, bronze
    E. monensis,    .00    golden
    E. montanus,    .00    gold, gray, brown
    E. pinchoni,    .00    golden
    E. planirostris,    .00    gold
    E. richmondi,    .25    brassy, black
    E. ricordii, Ricord’s frog    .50    red, scarlet
    E. wetmorei,    .00    golden
    E. wightmanae,    .00    golden, gray
    Hyperolius horstockii, Horstock’s tree frog    .00    iridescent green-gold, brown
    Leptodactylus fallax,    .00    yellow, bronze
    Syrrhophus campi, Camp’s frog    .00    greenish yellow, chrome brown
    S. marnockii, Marnock’s frog    .00    yellow, green, brown
 
FAMILY:  Hylidae        (29 species)    [A.E.D. = .060]
        (Tree frogs)             Rating    Eye Colors
    Acris gryllus, Cricket frog    .00    yellow, orange, black
    Calyptahyla crucialis,     .00    golden, reddish-brown
    Choropbilus nigritus, Swamp tree frog    .00    golden, copper
    Hyla andersonii, Anderson tree frog    .25    bronze, tawny, vinaceous drab purple
    H. annectans, Chinese tree frog    .00    golden, black
    H. arborea, European tree frog     .00    gold, brown
    H. arenicolor, Canyon tree frog    .00    yellow, metallic yellow, olive, gray, brown
    H. avivoca, Viosca’s tree frog    .00    yellow, black
    H. baudinii, Mexican tree frog    .00    yellow, buff, pink, bronzy
    H. cinerea, Green tree frog    .00    golden, bronze, vinaceous russet
    H. coerula, White’s tree frog    .00    gold, silver, brown
    H. crucifer, Spring peeper    .25    orange, snuff brown
    H. evittata,    .00    golden, bronze        
    H. femoralis, Pine woods tree frog    .00    ecru drab, drab gray, black
    H. gratiosa, Barking tree frog    .25    bronze, purplish black
    H. heilprini,    .00    silver, gray, brown
    H. marianae,    .25    bronze
    H. pulchrilineata,    .25    bronzy
    H. regilla, Pacific tree frog    .00    yellow, black
    H. septentrionalis, Giant tree frog    .00    yellow, buff, black
    H. squirella, Southern tree frog    .00    orange-yellow, bronze
    H. vasta,        .00    golden, bronzy
    H. versicolor, Common tree toad    .00    seafoam green, vinaceous russet
    Ololygon rubra,    .25    bronze, black
    O. dominicensis,    .00    gold, light blue
    O. septentrionalis,    .00    yellow
    Pseudacris brimleyi, Brimley’s chorus frog    .00    gold, red
    P. ornata, Ornate chorus frog    .00    gold, tawny, brown
    P. streckeri, Stecker’s ornate chorus frog    .25    fawn, cinnamon bronzy    
 
FAMILY:  Ranidae        (33 species)    [A.E.D. = .030]
        (True Frogs)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Rana adenopleura        .00    golden, reddish golden
    R. adspersa, Numskull frog    .00    silver, gold
    R. andersonii        .00    golden-reddish
    R. areolata, Texas gopher frog    .25    orange, zinc, black
    R. aurora, Oregon red-legged frog    .00    yellow, orange, zinc
    R. boylii, California yellow-legged frog    .00    yellow, buff pink, green, black
    R. capito, Florida gopher frog    .00    buff-yellow, black
    R. cascadae, Slater’s frog    .00    yellow, black
    R. catesbeiana, Bullfrog    .00    yellow, gold, green, red, black
    R. chaochiaoensis        .00    gold, black
    R. clamitans, Green frog    .00    yellow, orange, rufous, black
    R. esculenta, Edible frog    .00    gold, bronze, green, chocolate
    R. grylio, Sosuthern bullfrog    .00    yellow, green, black
    R. guenthesi        .00    gold, black
    R. heckscheri, River-swamp frog    .00    yellow, green, black
    R. margaretae        .00    golden, spotted dark brown
    R. nigromaculata, Black spotted frog        .00    old gold, black
    R. onca, Utah frog        .00    golden, orange, cinnamon, black
    R. palusstris, Pickerel frog    .50    russet, brown, black
    R. pipiens,  Leopard frog    .25    olive, green, black
    R. pleuraden        .00    old gold, red, black
    R. pretiosa, Western spotted frog    .00    yellow, black
    R. shuchinae        .00    gold, red, black
    R. sphnocephala, Southern leopard frog    .00    golden, bronze
    R. sylvatica, Wood frog    .00    yellow, cinnamon, vinacious, black
    R. tarahumarae, Mexican frog    .00    yellow, russet, black
    R. temporaria, Common frog        .00    golden, red, black, yellow, gold, brown
    R.  tigrina, Tigrine frog    .00    gold, brown
    R. uospersa, Numskull frog    .00    gold, silver
    R. virgatipes, Sphagnum frog    .00    yellow, green, black
    Rhacophorus bambusicola    .00    golden, pinkish, black
    R. chefui            .00    golden, orange, green
    R. leucomeptax        .00    golden, reddish
 
FAMILY:  Rhacophoridae        (2 species)    [A.E.D. = .000]
        (Old World Tree Frogs)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Hyperolius horstockii, Horstock’s tree frog    .00    green-gold, brown
    Rhacophorus leucomystax, Common maylayan tree fr    .00    gold, russet, chocolate
 
FAMILY:  Microhylidae        (5 species)    [A.E.D. = .050]
        (Narrow-mouthed Toads)             Rating    Eye Colors
    Hypopachus cuneus, Taylor’s toad    .00    yellow, green, red, black
    Kaloula macroptica    .00    gold, black
    K. pulchra, Malayan bullfrog    .00     gold, chocolate pigment
    Microhyla olivacea, Texas narrow-mouth toad    .25    olive, green, gray, brown
    Phrynomerus bifasciata, Orange-banded wood    .00    gold, dark brown
 
 
 
        
    ORDER:  Caudata      (45 species)     [A.E.D. = .300]
                                     (Salamanders, Newts)
 
 
FAMILY:  Cryptobranchidae        (1 species)    
        (Giant Salamander                     Rating    Eye Colors
    Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, Hellbender    1.00    black
FAMILY:  Salamandridae         (7 species)    [A.E.D. = .250]
        (Newts)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Salamandra maculosa, Spotted salamander    1.00    dark brown
    Notophyhalmus viridescens, Eastern newt    .50    flame color
    Pleurodeles wult, Pleurodele newt    .25    metallic, brown
    Triturus granulosus, Rough-skin newt    .00    pale yellow, whitish
    T. pyrrhogaster, Japanese newt    .00    gold, green, brown
    T. rivaloris Western red-bellied newt    .00    yellow, dark brown
    T. torosus, California newt    .00    lemon yellow, cream, silvery
 
FAMILY:  Proteidae        (1 species)
        (Olm, Mudpuppy)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Necturus maculosus, Mudpuppy    .75    dark gray
 
FAMILY:  Ambystomidae        (9 species)    [A.E.D. = .361]
        (Mole Salamanders)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Ambystoma gracile, Northwestern salamander    .00    silver, dark brown
    A. jeffersonianum, Jefferson salamander    1.00    black
    A. macrodyctylum, Long-toed salamander    .00    golden, dark brown
    A. maculatum, Spotted salamander    .75    dark gray
    A. opacum,  Marbled salamander    .75    darkest gray
    A. talpoideum, Mole salamander    .50    dusky
    A. tigrinum, Axolott    .00    gold, red, dark brown
    Dicamptodon ensatus, Pacific giant salamander    .25    bronze, brown
    Rhyacotriton olympicus, Olympic salamander    .00    yellow, black
 
FAMILY:  Plethodontidae        (24 species)    [A.E.D. = .177]    
        (Lungless Salamanders)        Rating    Eye Colors
     Aneides flavipunetatus, Black salamander    .00    gold, silver, brown
    A.hardii, Sacramento Mtn. salamander    .25    copper, brown
    A. lugubris, Arboreal salamander    .00    yellow, silver, brown
    Batrachoseps attenuatus, Caif. slender salamander    .25    brassy, brown
    B. pacificus, Pacific slender salamander    .00    metallic gold, rust
    B. perseus, Clouded salamander    .25    brassy, brown
    B. wrighti, Oregon slender salamander    .25    coppery, brown
    Desmognathus auriculatus, Southern dusky salaman.    .50    reddish brown
    D. fuscus, Dusky salamander    .50    dusky gray
    D. quadramaculatus, Black-bellied salamander    .00    golden, red
    Ensatina eschscholtzi, Eschscholtz salamander    .00    yellow, white, bronze        
    Eurycea bislineata, Two-lined salamander    .00    bright yellow, golden
    E. longicauda, long tailed salamander    .00    golden, flame colored
    E. quadridigitata,    .50    dusky
    Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, Spring salamander    .25    shining copper color, dusky
    Hydromantes platycephalus, Mt. Lyell salamander    .00    golden white, brown
    Plethodon cinereus, Red-backed salamander    .25    copper color
    P. dunni, Dunn salamander    .25    brassy, dark brown
    P. elongatus, Del Norte salamander    .25    brassy, brown
    P. glutinosus, Slimy salamander    .50    dusky
    P. neomexicanus, Jemez Mtn salamander    .25    blue green, black
    P. vandykei, Van Dyke salamander    .00    silver-gold, black
    P. vehiculum, Western red-backed salamander    .00    golden, salmon, copper
    Pseudotriton ruber, Red salamander    .00    golden
 
FAMILY:  Sirenidae        (3 species)    [A.E.D. = .833]
                  (Sirens)        Rating    Eye Colors
    Pseudobranchus striatus, Dwarf siren    .50    dusky gray
    Siren intermedia, Lesser siren    1.00    black
    S. lacertina, Greater siren    1.00    black
 
 
TOTAL: 181 SPECIES
 
 
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July 16, 2006
Species Eye Colors of Amphibians
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