Taxonomic lineage

cellular organisms - Eukaryota - Fungi/Metazoa group - Metazoa - Eumetazoa - Bilateria - Coelomata - Deuterostomia - Chordata - Craniata - Vertebrata - Gnathostomata - Teleostomi - Euteleostomi - Sarcopterygii - Tetrapoda - Amniota - Mammalia - Theria - Eutheria - Euarchontoglires - Primates - Strepsirrhini - Chiromyiformes - Daubentoniidae - Daubentonia - Daubentonia madagascariensis

Brief facts

• Distribution

  Daubentonia madagascariensis, commonly known as aye-aye, is endemic to Madagascar and can be found in a variety of habitats.

• Conservation status

  Aye-ayes are critically endangered not only because their habitat is being rapidly destroyed but also because they are considered to be bearers of bad luck and frequently killed. The aye-aye is the only primate that is considered endangered at the species, genus and family level.

• Diet

  Diets comprise fruit, nuts, insects, and insect larvae. Preference for flower nectar was noted in field studies (Ancrenaz M et al., 1994). Aye-ayes are very "fussy" feeders: they are highly selective and zoo keepers struggle to vary food items daily. In captivity, aye-ayes also fed "gruel", which is essential in providing protein, calcium and vitamins. The gruel is based either on commercial primate chow or on baby cereal.

• Life style

  Nocturnal. Each animal builds several nests high up in trees or palms. The nests can be used by other individuals for daytime sleep. Night time activity starts shortly before sunset or several hours after. Daytime rest starts shortly before dawn. Pattern of behavior: locomotion - 55.2%, feeding - 14.3%, resting - 18.9%, self-grooming - 11.6% (Ancrenaz M et al., 1994).

• Social behavior

  Solitary. Sometime travel in small groups. Rarely aggregate during resting and feeding. Social grooming was not detected in field studies (Ancrenaz M et al., 1994). Aye-ayes communicate vocally by giving alarm calls characterized as a soft and long "creeii" , calls between individuals feeding or grooming in close proximity characterized as "ggnnoff" (Andriamasimanana, 1994) and male-to-females calls.

• Locomotion

  Arboreal quadruped. However, researchers who conducted field studies also noted upside down clinging, leaping between vertical supports and resting in vertical posture (Ancrenaz M et al., 1994).

• Anatomy

  Overall anatomy, body shape and posture are characteristic to lemurs. Aye-ayes adult weight ranges from 1.5 to 3.2 kg. Aye-ayes possess a unique hand structure that allows them to "tap-scan" tree branches for burrowing insect larvae.