Common name : Aye Aye
Scientific name : Daubentonia madagascariensis
Type : MammalDiet : Omnivore
Average life span in captivity : 20 years
Size(Head and body) : 14 to 17 in (36 to 43 cm)
Size(Tail) : 22 to 24 in (56 to 61 cm)
Weight ::4 lbs (2 kg)
Protection status : Threatened
★ These rare animals may not look like primates at first glance, but they are related to chimpanzees, apes, and humans.
★ Aye-ayes are the largest nocturnal primate in the world. They are also the only primate thought to use echolocation, which they use to find insect grubs hidden 2cm deep inside a tree.
★ These incredibly unique animals are severely threatened throughout much of their natural habitat and were thought to be on the brink of extinction by 1980, primarily due to them being killed instantly by local people who believe the aye-aye an omen of ill luck.
★ They have big eyes, slender fingers, and large, sensitive ears.
★ While perched aloft, the aye-aye taps on trees with its long middle finger and listens for wood-boring insect larvae moving under the bark. It employs the same middle finger to fish them out. The digit is also useful for scooping the flesh out of coconuts and other fruits that supplement the animal's insect diet.
★ During mating, aye-ayes hang upside-down on a branch, and the procedure lasts for about an hour.
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