Daubentonia madagascariensis (aye aye)

Daubentonia madagascariensis, known as the aye aye, is a nocturnal primate found only on the island of Madagascar and is considered by many to be the strangest of all primates.

The aye aye is disadvantaged by its unusual and even sinister appearance and behaviour, such as:

huge, spidery-looking hands with a tapping bony finger
coarse black fur
bushy tail
bat like ears
widely spaced shining eyes
nocturnal habits

Species detail

Taxonomy

The aye aye is the only surviving member of the family Daubentoniidae. Find out more about its extinct relatives.
Distribution

The aye aye is native to Madagascar. It is difficult to spot, but find out where you might see it.
Biology

Aye ayes have a bright shining eyes and a long thin bony finger. Find out more about this unique animal.
Behaviour

Aye ayes use their thin, bony finger to extract insect larvae from trees. Find out more about this unusual behaviour and how these complex foraging techniques are passed on to the next generation.
Conservation

The aye aye is threatened by more than habitat destruction. People associate it with bad luck - if sighted near a village, the aye aye is caught and killed. Find out more about the superstitions linked to this species.
References

Get reference material for Daubentonia madagascariensis.