Aye-aye

Daubentonia madagascariensis

"In the gloom it came along the branches towards me, its round, hypnotic eyes blazing, its spoon-like ears turning to and fro like radar dishes, its white whiskers twitching and moving like sensors; its black hands, with their thin fingers, the third seeming terribly elongated, tapping delicately on the branches as it moved along." -from The Aye-aye and I by Gerald Durrell.
The Aye-aye is one of many unusual animals Gerry found in Madagascar. Threatened by the people it shares the island with because of it's odd appearance. To the Malagasy people, the Aye-aye is magical, and is believed to bring death to the village it appears in.

What do Aye-Aye Sound Like? They are quiet animals and don't say much. But, they do make noise as they tap and sniff at branches looking for food. Use these controls to play the sound clip and adjust the volume.

madagascar map

The Aye-aye owes its "notariety" much to its odd appearance, especially its long middle digit. This toe and claw is most important to the Aye-aye, as this is how it fishes tasty, fat grubs from rotting logs and branches.

The Aye-aye is also endagered, like so many animals, because its habitat is being destroyed. The forests of Madagascar are cleared for sugar cane and coconut plantations, leaving the Aye-aye with out food or home. It must resort to eating what the plantations provide, which causes the animal to become a pest to the farmers.

"The main threat to the Aye-aye is destrucition of its habitat. It is not known if it can survive in degraded areas; it is suggested that it needs large trees in which to build its nests. In some areas of Madagascar it is killed on sight, as it is regarded as a harbinger of misfortune. It is also reported to be killed when raiding crops. It appears to be unafraid of humans and is easy to capture. Two of the tree species which the aye-aye seems to use as a food source occur throughout the eastern rainforest of Madagascar, but they are frequently cut down as their wood is used in the construction of boats, houses and coffins. ...
Malagasy law prohibits the killing or unauthorised capture of any lemurs. However, this law is often impossible to enforce."
Source: The Lemurs of Madagascar and the Comoros. The IUCN Red Data Book. Gland, Switzerland. 1990.