Aye-Aye: The Strange Lemur That Taps Trees to Find Food
The aye-aye is a lemur from Madagascar with huge ears, staring eyes and one remarkably thin middle finger. At night it taps on branches, listens for hollow insect tunnels, gnaws a hole and hooks out grubs. It is endangered, partly because some people see it as a bad omen.
Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Daubentonia madagascariensis
- Where: Only in Madagascar
- Active: At night
- Diet: Insect larvae, seeds, fruit and nectar
- Status: Endangered (IUCN)
Is the Aye-Aye a Lemur?
Yes. It looks like a mix of a bat, a rodent and a cat, but the aye-aye is a lemur, and the largest primate in the world that is active only at night.
How Does an Aye-Aye Find Food?
It climbs through the trees tapping on wood with its long middle finger, then listens with its giant ears. Changes in the sound reveal hollow tunnels where insect larvae live. This is called tap-scanning.
When it finds one, it gnaws through the bark with incisors that never stop growing, slides its slender middle finger into the hole and hooks the grub out. Its ring finger is long too and can help.
Why Are Aye-Ayes Endangered?
In some parts of Madagascar, aye-ayes have been seen as a bad omen, and that belief has led to some being killed. Habitat loss is another serious threat. Today the species is listed as endangered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the aye-aye considered a bad omen?
In some Malagasy communities, folklore links it with bad luck. This belief is not shared everywhere, but it has put aye-ayes at risk.
What does an aye-aye eat?
Mostly insect larvae dug out of wood, plus seeds, fruit and nectar.
Is the aye-aye a monkey?
No. It is a lemur, a different group of primates found only in Madagascar.
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Sources
- Duke Lemur Center: Aye-aye: biology, tap-scanning and conservation
- Natural History Museum, London: the specialized finger
- IUCN Red List: endangered status
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Cover photo: Frank Vassen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.