Coyotes weigh up to 40 pounds, can live for 14 years in the wild, can run up to 40 miles per hours when chasing prey, mate for life, and walk on their toes. Their scientific name,Canis latrans, means “barking dog” in Latin, they are great swimmers, and they live in every state in America except Hawaii (OK, so apparently they are not that great at swimming).
And, to the surprise of many, some coyotes in California now have startling blue eyes.
The first blue-eyed coyote sightings were reported in the winter of 2019, and since then reports have come from Point Reyes, Santa Cruz, and Sacramento. The first photos of the blue-eyed animals were made public by wildlife photographer Dan Dietrich.
Blue eyes are rare and unique in the animal kingdom. While common in humans, especially those of European descent, blue eyes are unusual for wild animals. Only a handful of species exhibit this striking eye color. Let’s explore some of the most amazing animals with blue eyes and what causes this phenomenon.
What Causes Blue Eyes in Animals?
In humans, blue eyes are caused by low levels of melanin pigment in the iris. Melanin controls the color of our eyes, skin and hair. The less melanin present, the lighter the eye color.
Animals have two types of melanin – eumelanin which produces brown/black pigment and pheomelanin which produces red/yellow pigment. A lack of melanin causes blue eyes in animals. Albino animals completely lack melanin, so their eyes are pink or red. To achieve blue animals must produce some melanin just reduced amounts compared to normal.
Genetics and breed influence blue eyes in pets like dogs and cats For wild species, blue eyes may result from a genetic mutation They can be a rare fluke of nature.
Wild Species with Striking Blue Eyes
While fairly common in domestic animals, blue eyes are exceptionally rare in wildlife. Here are some of the most amazing wild species exhibiting this unique trait:
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Jaguars and Leopards – Big cats are not known for blue eyes, but exotic cases have been documented. Several blue-eyed black leopards have been spotted in India. Blue-eyed jaguars have also been seen in certain parts of South America.
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Reptiles – Certain lizards and snakes exhibit blue eyes, including the blue-eyed black lemur of Madagascar, blue-eyed bush vipers in Africa and blue-eyed anoles in Costa Rica. Their vibrant blue eyes stand out against darker scales.
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Birds – Several species of birds have blue eyes, including herons, Northern gannets, cormorants and certain finches and blackbirds. Double-crested cormorants are common North American water birds with bright blue eyes.
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Fish – Blue eyes commonly occur in species of fish that dwell in deep, dark waters. This includes the cardinalfish, mandarinfish, damselfish and stingrays. The vibrant blue hue may help attract mates in the ocean depths.
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Insects – Blue eyes are rare but found in some species like the blue dasher dragonfly and the blue-eyed darner. Certain bees, wasps and flies also exhibit light blue eyes, including the Primrose bee and the orchid bee.
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Marsupials – The endangered blue-eyed spotted cuscus is a marsupial with brilliant baby blues. Sadly, habitat destruction threatens this species found only on the island of New Guinea.
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Primates – Several lemur species on Madagascar have a blue eye coloration, like the striking blue-eyed black lemur. Unfortunately, these creatures are also endangered.
When Blue Eyes Occur in Domesticated Species
While less common in the wild, blue eyes frequently crop up in domesticated animals. Through selective breeding, humans have increased the incidence of blue eyes in favorite pet species:
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Dogs – Siberian huskies are known for their piercing blue eyes. Dalmatians, border collies, pomeranians, chow chows and Alaskan malamutes may also have blue eyes. The merle gene often produces a mottled coat and blue eyes.
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Cats – Siamese and sphynx cats are prone to blue eyes due to selective breeding. The merle gene also leads to blue eyes in cats. Breeds like Ragdolls, Oriental Shorthairs, and Tonkinese can produce kittens with blue eyes.
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Horses – Blue eyes are common in appaloosas, Arabians, miniature horses and Icelandic horses. Creamellos, perlinos and fewspots frequently have blue eyes due to a double-diluted cream gene.
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Cattle – Highland cattle often have blue eyes. Herefords may also exhibit blue around the iris. The dominant Holstein gene can cause blue eyes in dairy cattle.
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Goats – Blue eyes may occur in Alpine, Angora, LaMancha and Nigerian Dwarf goats. As with other species, a lack of pigment causes the blue coloration.
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Rodents – Fancy mice and rats bred for exotic coat colors and patterns sometimes have blue eyes. Certain breeds of hamsters and gerbils may also exhibit light blue eyes.
The Allure of Blue Peepers
Why are blue eyes so prized, especially in pets? For starters, they are simply stunning. Blue is a mesmerizing color and blue eyes stand out dramatically against fur of any shade.
Blue eyes also make animals appear more “childlike”. This effect evokes our instinct to nurture and protect young creatures. With large, innocent blue eyes, even a lion cub seems more endearing than threatening.
Across species, blue eyes give animals an air of vulnerability and innocence. They create the illusion of a gentle, harmless creature in need of care and affection. It’s no wonder humans find blue eyes appealing and actively breed for them in domestic animals.
Potential Health Risks of Blue Eyes
While beautiful, blue eyes can come with health risks in some species:
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Deafness – Blue-eyed white cats are often deaf. Lack of melanin pigment damages the inner ear. Dalmatians and Australian shepherds with blue eyes may also suffer deafness.
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Vision problems – Blue-eyed siamese cats frequently have crossed eyes due to lack of pigment in the optic nerves. Blue-eyed white cats can be prone to blindness.
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Sun sensitivity – Albino animals with blue eyes often have vision problems in bright light due to lack of protective iris pigment. Their unpigmented skin is also vulnerable to sun damage.
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Immune issues – The white spotted gene linked to blue eyes may cause autoimmune disorders in Dalmatians. Some blue-eyed dog breeds like huskies struggle with autoimmune problems as well.
Inbreeding to select for blue eyes can compound these issues. Reputable breeders health test parent stock to avoid exaggerating eye and immune disorders in vulnerable breeds.
The Takeaway on Blue Eyed Beasts
Blue eyes are a striking rarity in the animal world. A complex interplay of genetics, melanin levels and selective breeding leads to their occasional occurrence across species. For domestic pets, we’ve artificially boosted blue eye rates through our own preferences for this flashy trait.
While linked to some health issues, blue eyes pose no problems for most species. Their rarity in wildlife makes blue-eyed animals uniquely fascinating to discover. We delight in their novelty and find their “baby blues” beautiful. Blue eyes connect us to the inherent vulnerability and innocence of animals, even apex predators like wolves and big cats. No matter the species, those vivid blue eyes captivate us.
Why the Blue Eyes in Coyotes?
That’s still up for speculation, though Juan Negro, an animal eye hue expert, told National Geographic that blue irises could cause light sensitivity and interfere with camouflaging. The Smithsonian magazine added that those disadvantages could be shrugged off since humans have eradicated the coyotes’ main predators, wolves and mountain lions. As to why they are seen over such a relatively large area, that could be due to the fact that some coyotes are forced out of their family groups and have to roam far before they are accepted by a new pack or form their own.
University of Colorado ecologist and evolutionary biologist Marc Bekoff told Atlas Obscura that wild coyotes can sometimes acquire new traits after breeding with dogs, but that does not appear to be the case here.
“There needs to be much more research before people make wide-ranging pronouncements about what’s happening,” he said, although consensus so far points to a rare but natural genetic mutation.
What Eye Color Do Coyotes Have?
Normally, coyotes have brown eyes, but scientists have hypothesized that these blue-eyed animals descend from a single coyote who carried a mutant gene which caused the blue eyes.
National Geographic called the animal “one in a million” and said the genetic mutation likely appeared several generations ago.
Actually, “one in a million” is hard to say with certainty, David Press, a wildlife ecologist in Point Reyes, told SFGate. There are so many millions of coyotes in America that 500,000 alone are shot, trapped, or poisoned every year in predator control programs. Press notes that more people in the backcountry now, and better and more powerful cameras make such spottings more likely.
The World Through the Eyes of Animals
FAQ
Which animal has blue eyes?
Blue eyed individuals regularly occur in every domestic breed, from camels and goats to horses but there are cases of wild animals with azure pupils. This gallery features mammals, birds and even fish with beautiful blues…
What creature has blue eyes?
Other Animals With Blue Eyes
Owls. Cats. Lemurs. Cranes.
Is it rare for animals to have blue eyes?
Almost all mammals have brown or darkly-pigmented eyes (irises), but among primates, there are some prominent blue-eyed exceptions. The blue eyes of some humans and lemurs are a striking example of convergent evolution of a rare phenotype on distant branches of the primate tree.
Are there tigers with blue eyes?
White Tigers are just like orange tigers, they just have a different fur color. (Consider them – blonde, blue eyed tigers). White Tigers are not Albinos, they have blue eyes and fur coloring that can be creamy to white.
Do animals have blue eyes?
The fact that blue is one of the rarest and most attractive eye colors is undeniable. But the percentage of animals with blue eyes is super low. The majority of animals in the wild have either light or dark eyes, while there are only some exceptions of blue eyes.
What are some rare animals with blue eyes?
Some of the rarest types of animals with blue eyes include marsupials and wasps. Birds, bugs, cats, and even marsupials can have blue eyes. The nuance can be the result of a mutation or a natural occurrence that’s inherited from generation to generation. Some of the most common types of animals with blue eyes include cougars and dogs.
What type of dog has blue eyes?
One of the most popular dogs with blue eyes is the Siberian Husky. This breed of the spitz genus can have bright blue eyes, black eyes, or brown eyes. Even more, Siberian Huskies may only have one blue eye while the other one can be brown or black.
What animals are blue?
As do tigers, horses, and even lemurs. A colt from the blue. You don’t need to go into the wide blue yonder to find this stunning wolf. This Siamese cat is truly feeling blue. This Australian shepherd has the eyes of the bluest skies. This swan looks like a creature from the Blue Lagoon.
Why do dogs have blue eyes?
There are many animals with blue eyes present on earth. Blue eyes can be a result of a sudden genetic mutation. Dog lovers will find this species one of the most beautiful and fierce together. Siberian Husky is a breed of dog that carries a genetic coding of the Spitz family and is mostly found in cold regions of the world.
What is the only bird species known to have blue eyes?
Camiguin hawk-owls is known as the only species of owl to have blue eyes. This possibly makes it the only bird species to have blue eyes, but that’s yet to be proven.