Newborn Guereza Colobus Monkey Is Zoo's First Baby Animal Born in 2017

The Cincinnati Zoo has welcomed a snow white guereza colobus monkey as their first baby of 2017.

Read: First Baby Snow Monkey Born at Lincoln Park Zoo

The baby monkey born last week to 4-year-old mother Adanna and 21-year-old Tiberius has not yet been named nor has its gender been determined.

"We saw a lot of light-hearted behavior between the three of them," the zoo's primate curator said in a press statement.

Guereza colobus monkeys, native to parts of Africa, are known for their lack of a thumb. Instead, they have a non-opposable stub.

Despite its parents donning a vibrant black and white coat, the zoo explained in a press release that guereza colobus monkeys are born stark white with pink faces and blue eyes meant to help them be more visible to the mother in a dense rainforest environment.

Zoo officials expect the baby to grow a black and white coat just like its parents by the time it reaches 6 months old.

Read: Songs in the Key of Ape: Orangutan Releases New Jazz Single in Time for World Orangutan Day

The newborn and its mother will continue spending time bonding behind the scenes, and rejoin the outdoor exhibit once the weather warms up, according to the zoo.

Watch: Keeping Up Ape-Pearances: 2-Week-Old Critically Endangered Orangutan Makes Public Debut