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Aye-aye
Daubentonia madagascariensis
Endangered
Location
Madagascar
Size
36-44 cm (14-17 inches) body length
Diet
Omnivore
Habitat
Rainforest canopy and bamboo thickets
About This Animal
The aye-aye is Madagascar's strangest primate, with bat-like ears, beaver-like teeth, and a skeletal middle finger used for tapping trees and extracting insect larvae. Local superstitions consider it a harbinger of bad luck, making it one of the most persecuted animals on Earth.
Amazing Facts
Uses echolocation-like tapping to find insect larvae in wood
Has a specialized skeletal middle finger that grows continuously
Builds a new nest every night in the treetops
Is the world's largest nocturnal primate
Locals believe seeing one brings death, leading to persecution