Aye-aye
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Mammals
- Dietary Niche: Omnivore (Grubs, nectar, fungi, seeds, coconuts)
- Max Speed: 20 km/h (12 mph)
- Adult Weight: 2 - 3 kg (4.4 - 6.6 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 20 - 23 years
- Primary Habitat: Tropical rainforest canopy, deciduous forests
- Native Region: Madagascar
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates |
| Family | Daubentoniidae |
| Genus | Daubentonia |
| Species Binomial | Daubentonia madagascariensis |
📖 1. Species Overview
The Aye-aye is the world's largest nocturnal primate. An unusual lemur, it has evolved a highly specialized, elongated middle finger that it uses to tap on tree trunks to find hollow spaces and extract wood-boring grubs.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Has shaggy black-brown fur, large sensitive ears, rodent-like teeth that grow continuously, and an extremely long, thin third finger.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Highly nocturnal and arboreal. They construct complex dome nests of twigs high in tree forks.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Uses percussion foraging: taps tree bark at 8 times per second, listens for hollow echoes, gnaws holes with its teeth, and pulls out grubs with its thin finger.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Slow breeders. Females give birth to a single infant every 2-3 years, carrying it on her belly for the first 3 months.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Endangered. Threatened by habitat deforestation and local superstitious killings (where they are viewed as harbingers of bad luck).
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- The Aye-aye is the only primate known to use echolocation/percussion foraging to locate grubs inside tree trunks.
- Their third finger has a ball-and-socket joint, allowing it to rotate 360 degrees.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Aye-aye.
The Aye-aye is scientifically classified as Daubentonia madagascariensis. It belongs to the genus Daubentonia within the family Daubentoniidae, class Mammalia, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Aye-ayes inhabit Tropical rainforest canopy, deciduous forests. Their native geographic range primarily spans Madagascar.
The Aye-aye is classified as a Omnivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Tropical rainforest canopy, deciduous forests.
A Aye-aye can achieve top speeds of 20 km/h (12 mph) and weighs approximately 2 - 3 kg (4.4 - 6.6 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 20 - 23 years.
The Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is currently designated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) Species Profile."
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