Aye-aye
Daubentonia madagascariensis
Quick answer
The aye-aye is Madagascar's largest nocturnal lemur, with rodent-like ever-growing teeth, huge ears, and a skeletal middle finger for tapping wood to locate grubs. Weighing about 3 kg, living up to 23 years, and listed Endangered, it faces persecution from folklore linking it to bad omens.
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Aye-aye facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Daubentonia madagascariensis |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore — insect larvae, fruit, nectar, and fungi |
| Habitat | Rainforests and coconut plantations of Madagascar |
| Lifespan | 20–23 years in the wild (long-lived for a lemur) |
| Weight | 2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lb) |
| Top speed | Slow arboreal locomotion; leaps between branches at night |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates |
| Family | Daubentoniidae |
| Genus | Daubentonia |
Where it lives
Endemic to Madagascar — eastern and northern rainforests and plantations with remaining native trees.
What is a group of aye-ayes called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Aye-ayes is called a troop.
Baby name
A baby Aye-aye is called an infant.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Distribution and habitat
Aye-ayes live in Endemic to Madagascar — eastern and northern rainforests and plantations with remaining native trees. Preferred habitat includes rainforests and coconut plantations of madagascar. Across Africa, population density reflects prey availability, water access, and human disturbance. Protected areas and wildlife corridors remain essential for long-term persistence.
Physical traits and behaviour
Aye-ayes typically reach about 0.9 m in length and 3 kg in weight, with top speeds near 8 km/h. Madagascar's nocturnal oddity. Daily activity, social structure, and seasonal movements reflect pressures in their native environment.
Diet and ecological role
Aye-ayes feed on omnivore — insect larvae, fruit, nectar, and fungi. Foraging shifts with season and local abundance. As mammals, they influence food webs — controlling prey, dispersing seeds, or shaping habitat through feeding and movement.
Conservation and coexistence
Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss, hunting, and climate change threaten many populations. Responsible ecotourism and community conservation help in parts of their range. Never approach or feed wild aye-ayes.
Human interest and research
Aye-ayes feature in folklore, tourism, and scientific study worldwide. Ongoing research tracks population trends, genetics, and responses to environmental change — data that guides national protection policies.
Dig deeper into the Aye-aye
- Are Aye Aye Endangered
Dig deeper into aye-aye — are aye aye endangered.
- Aye Aye Facts 5
Dig deeper into aye-aye — aye aye facts 5.
- How Long do Aye Aye Live?
Dig deeper into aye-aye — how long do aye aye live.
- What do Aye Aye Eat
Dig deeper into aye-aye — what do aye aye eat.
- Where do Aye Aye Live?
Dig deeper into aye-aye — where do aye aye live.
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Range & geography
Did you know? Aye-aye facts
- The aye-aye is a lemur with rodent-like teeth, a skeletal middle finger for tapping wood, and large ears for locating grubs.
- It evolved convergent traits to a woodpecker — specialized finger, ever-growing teeth.
- They are shy and harmless — folklore wrongly labels them as evil.
- Conservation: Endangered.
Diet & feeding
Aye-aye feeds primarily as a insect larvae, fruit, nectar. Habitat loss and persecution threaten this unique primate.
Adaptations
- The aye-aye taps branches, listens for hollow sounds, then gnaws and extracts larvae.
- Habitat loss and persecution threaten this unique primate.
Behaviour & ecology
- The aye-aye taps branches, listens for hollow sounds, then gnaws and extracts larvae.
- Habitat loss and persecution threaten this unique primate.
Communication
- Aye-aye uses scent, posture, and vocal signals to mark territory and coordinate social behaviour.
- Communication intensity often peaks during breeding seasons and territorial disputes.
Habitat & range
Madagascar rainforests
Ecological role
Aye-aye plays a recognised ecological role in madagascar rainforests.
Frequently asked questions about the Aye-aye
Where do aye-ayes live?
Endemic to Madagascar — eastern and northern rainforests and plantations with remaining native trees.
What do aye-ayes eat?
Omnivore — insect larvae, fruit, nectar, and fungi.
How long do aye-ayes live?
About 23 years in the wild on average.
Are aye-ayes endangered?
IUCN status: Endangered.
What is a group of aye-ayes called?
A group of Aye-ayes is called a troop.
What is a baby aye-aye called?
A baby Aye-aye is called an infant.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Aye-aye:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Endangered) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Daubentonia madagascariensis.
- IUCN Red List — Daubentonia madagascariensis.
Conservation status (Endangered) and population trends.
- Animal Diversity Web — Daubentonia madagascariensis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Life history, morphology, and range.
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