Blue-eyed black lemur

The blue-eyed black lemur is found only in a small region of the island of Madagascar, where they live in subtropical moist and dry forests. Unlike most primates, the males and females are different colours. Males are completely black, while females are mostly reddish-brown. Both sexes have blue or blue-grey eyes; this lemur is one of just a few species of primates in which blue eyes are typical.

Sclater’s blue-eyed lemur, a subspecies of black lemur, is an extremely rare primate with bright blue eyes and a very small range.

Their slender bodies are about 16 inches, with long, 20-inch furry tails. They lack the brachial (arm) scent glands of Genus Lemur, but use anogenital scent glands, along with urine, to mark home territories.

Blue-eyed black lemurs live in groups that include several adult males and females with young. Within groups, females are dominant to males and get first choice of food. Female dominance is a pattern seen in many types of lemurs. Blue-eyed black lemurs are arboreal, living and traveling mostly in the trees.

In the wild, blue-eyed black lemurs probably eat fruit, leaves, flowers and nectar. They may also occasionally catch birds and small mammals. They also feed on nectar-bearing plants that bloom at night, and they savour some animal matter like millipedes. In the trees, these lemurs eat directly from branches, which they pull toward their faces while hanging on with their grasping feet, or from large fruits they grasp with both hands while biting off pieces. In the Zoo, the blue-eyed black lemurs eat scientifically-formulated primate chow and a variety of fresh produce.

Gestation is about four-and-a-half months. Usually a single infant is born, though twins are not rare. Both sexes are born dark; females change color around six months. With their grasping hands, babies hang on to the mother’s abdomen for about four weeks, then ride on her back. Weaning is at about five months, and maturity at 18 months. These lemurs live up to 30 years. Their fox-like faces often have differing colours of fur around the eyes and noses.