Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
The aye-aye is a lemur found in the forests of Madagascar, an island off the southwestern coast of Africa. Lemurs are specific type of primates found only in Madagascar. Although aye-aye population is spread over a large are of the island, only a few thousand are believed to be left.
The aye-aye is the most bizarre looking animal, with disproportionately long ears pointing out from its head, claw-like toes and fingers, and front teeth that are similar to that of rodents. These creatures puzzled zoologists for years as they could not decide how to classify it. The thing that confused early naturalists the most were its teeth. Just like rodents, aye-aye teeth grow throughout its life. Eventually it was classified as a primate. Probably, the most unusual part of the aye-aye’s body is the middle finger on each of its hands. The middle finger is thin and three times the length of its other fingers. The aye-aye has two contrasting coats of hair covering their body; a short, dense white coat underneath a less dense blackish-brown coat. An average aye-aye weighs approximately 5 pounds, has a body length of 15-18 inches and a tail size of 16-22 inches. 12 acres is the estimated range within which aye-aye live.
Aye-ayes are nocturnal creatures meaning that they are active at night. They spend their active time searching for food and hanging from trees using their hind legs. Aye-ayes build nests, where they stay during the day. They don’t build permanent nests. The aye-aye’s diet is mainly composed of fruit and insect larvae. It have special liking for coconuts which it breaks using its sharp incisors. Their sensitive ears help them detect the movement of insect larvae in the bark of trees. They scrape away the bark and eat the larvae using their thin, long middle finger. Bamboo shoots, sugarcane and some small animals are also eaten by the animal.
Unlike some other lemurs the aye-aye prefers to live alone. They only come together for breeding and for the rest of the time they don’t like the company of other aye-ayes. A female usually gives birth to a single infant. The gap between birth is two three years. An Aye-aye is born with the ability to climb and cling.
Like many other animals living in the wild, destruction of habitat is the biggest threat to the aye-aye population.
The animal builds its nest on large, old trees and cannot survive in areas without trees. Another threat is from the locals, many of which kill the animal because they believe that seeing it brings bad luck and even death. Farmers also consider it a threat to their crops and kill it when they get the chance. Fossa, a slender cat like mammal is the only animal that hunts the aye-aye.
There are many aye-aye reserves in Madagascar, but they are not well protected. However, special protection has been provided to 9 aye-aye released on the Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve, under a conservation program that started in 1966.
