Quick answer
Aye-ayes feed on omnivore — insect larvae, fruit, nectar, and fungi, adjusting seasonally based on local habitat and prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Aye-ayes are mammals that rely on omnivore — insect larvae, fruit, nectar, and fungi. 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.
Feeding behaviour
Foraging strategy varies by season. Aye-ayes may hunt, graze, filter-feed, or scavenge depending on ecology.
Role in the food web
As mammals, they interact with predators, prey, and competitors across their range.
Human-related feeding risks
Never feed wild aye-ayes — it habituates animals to people and can spread disease.
Sources
FAQs
What do aye-ayes eat?
Omnivore — insect larvae, fruit, nectar, and fungi.
Are aye-ayes carnivores or herbivores?
Their diet is best described as: omnivore — insect larvae, fruit, nectar, and fungi.
Do aye-ayes change diet seasonally?
Yes — many species shift food sources as seasons and prey abundance change.
Can I feed wild aye-ayes?
No — feeding wild animals is unsafe and often illegal.