The Aye-Aye or Daubentonia madagascariensis, is the largest nocturnal primate in the world. It is also the only primate known to use echolocation to find its prey: grubs in rotting trees. In addition to these interesting “onlys,” it is the most endangered mammals in Madagascar.
The Fascinating, and Strange, Aye-Aye
Aye-Ayes live for around twenty-three years in the wild and during that time will grow to be 40 centimeters in length and two kilos. Their long slender fingers are used to find their aforementioned food. They will tap their fingers on the tree, listening for hollow spaces. They then use their specially adapted slender fingers to extract the larvae from the holes.
They live in the rainforests and mangrove swamps of eastern Madagascar. These are truly unique animals will soon disappear if we do not act to stop the excessive deforestation of Madagascar.
Posted in science | Tags: science, zoology, Animals, biology, ecology, Endangered, Aye-Aye, Mammal, Madagascar
