This post is dedicated
to Forest Schafer since it covers his favorite animal, the Aye-Aye.
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| Figure 1: The Aye-Aye |
Ever feel like you did not belong? Did you ever feel like an ugly duckling? The primate to be discussed in today’s blog
post, the Aye-Aye (Figure 1), is identified as both an outlier within the
primate order as well as extremely bizarre.
This blog post will describe the Aye-Aye as well as discuss factors that
continue to lead to its endangered status.
The Aye-Aye is a rather unique primate. Its physical appearance has been described as
rodent or bat like, although I like to consider it the inspiration for the
Harry Potter character Dobby (note, I do not know if that is the case, but it
is what I like to think). The Aye-Aye is
the largest nocturnal primate in the world, ranging from 14-17 inches and
weighing in at four to six pounds. It
has thick, course brown, black, and white hair; bat like ears; continually growing
incisors; and an elongated middle finger.
It was a combination of its physical features and odd incisor growth
that led scholars to originally believe it was a rodent, not a primate, but
further analysis did lead to the true classification as a prosimian, a type of
primitive looking primate.
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| Figure 2: Distribution of Aye-Aye on the island of Madagascar |
The Aye-Aye resides exclusively on the island of Madagascar
(Figure 2), existing in both dry deciduous and rain forests. The Aye-Aye’s unique form makes it adapted to
a specialized diet that consists of nuts, palm tree nectar, fungi, and insect
grubs, the latter of which they seek out by tapping their elongated middle
finger along dead tree branches. The
sounds and echoes of the tapping on the wood is picked up by its large ears and
enables the Aye-Aye to accurately determine where the grubs are, which are
scooped out with the elongated finger. Due
to changing economic practices (due to globalization and agricultural
development) Aye-Ayes have recently taken to eating a variety of cultivated
fruits.
The Aye-Aye has additional unique features, specifically
related to its social behavior. The Aye-Aye
is a solitary creature, which is rare among primates (as they are generally
social). Males and females are
reproductively active throughout the year, and when they do come together to
breed it is the female that dominates over the male. This typically occurs every three years,
though.
The Aye-Aye is currently threatened with no more than 1000
living in the wild (and about a hundred in captivity). The primary threat against the Aye-Aye is
humans who hunt the Aye-Aye to keep them out of orchards and farms, but this is
actually not the leading cause of death among these creatures. The Malagasi believe that they will be cursed
if the Aye-Aye points it middle finger at them, so whenever they encounter one
it is quickly disposed of to avoid any misfortune. This may also be one of the reasons why the
Aye-Aye may use its middle finger to point at a human, as an insulting gesture
for unnecessarily killing them. The Malagasy government and various conservation organizations are working toward saving the Aye-Aye, but there are difficulties in determining how these efforts are working out since the creature is rather elusive and exact counts of wild populations are incomplete and inaccurate.
In conclusion, the Aye-Aye is a very unique primate in
several ways. Its form, behavior, and
stigma all contribute to its exceptional status. While many people may look at it and think it
is ugly the Aye-Aye is actually a very beautiful creature because it is so different.
References
Gron, K. 2007. “Aye-Aye: Daubentonia madagascariensis.” Primate Info Net. National Primate Research Center, University
of Wisconsin-Madison.
No Author. No
Date. “Daubentonia madagascariensis.” IUNC Red List of Threatened Species. International Union for Conservation of
Nature and Natural Resources Website.
No Author. No
Date. “335. Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis).” EDGE: Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally
Endangered. The Zooarchaeological
Society of London website.
No Author. No
Date. “Aye-Aye (Daubentonia
madagascariensis).” Arkive.org
No Author. No
Date. “Aye-Aye: Daubentonia
madagascariensis.” Duke Lemur
Center. Duke University website.
46 comments:
These animals look very similar to Lemurs, especially the eyes. Since this animal is solitary, I would assume that they are not really aggressive like some other types of primates, correct?
Actually, the Aye-Aye is a type of lemuridae species. And while they aren't tame by any means they aren't aggressive. None of the primates particularly are, despite what popular culture puts forward. :)
Is the Aye-Aye the only creature in Madagascar where the female is in control of the male. Do you believe that they could live in our environment and atmosphere in the United States?
S.Carter
The article didn't mention how many Aye Aye primates can be born at one time. Is there a reason why they only breed every three years, considering they are reproductively active all year. I know they can adapt to dry land and yhe rain forest but what would happen if the teperature was colder.
Well, Steven, the first question goes beyond my knowledge base. I know there are other primate (and animal) species where the female takes control, but as for other species on Madagascar I'm not sure. As this is a topic that interests you I recommend that you look into it as you have an upcoming assignment in class on primates (see assignment 3). As for Aye-Aye populations living and surviving in the US it is doubtful. While some may be able to survive in zoos it is very doubtful that they would survive in the wild without some sort of negative environmental impact.
Typically, like most primates, Aye-Ayes produce one baby at a time. Typically, birth cycles also correspond with child rearing cyles, and animals typically do not give birth to offspring that they cannot support so they abstain from sexual contact. And if the temperature got colder I suspect that they'd either adapt or die.
LaTroya "Trey" Jamison
Besides the fact that there is a stigma that you can be cursed by an Aye-Aye, do you think that maybe another reasons they are endangered could be caused by scientist over looking them because they are not the typical cute and adorable species?
It looks like the lemur from madagascar that used to always follow the king around.
Possibly, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder there are at least some of us who think they're cute. Besides, science is supposed to be emotion free (supposed to be), and therefore we save species for the potential environmental impact on other species, not because we happen to think something is cute or not.
I have a question, do the Malagasi have recorded accuracy that the middle finger of the Aye-Aye is bad luck?
I doubt there is anything that would stand up to scientific scrutiny, but much like any individual who associates luck with an object (e.g. a lucky outfit) they will recount examples that support that assertion.
The Aye-Aye's have the weirdest breeding process because the female are more dominate than males and that it happens every 3 years.
What lead to its classification as a primate over a rodent? Physical features initially led scholars to believe it was a rodent, so what changed? Was it the Aye-Aye's genotype?
If you look at an Aye-aye you may initially think rat, which is what many scholars did. When they look a better, more thorough look at them they realized that they actually we're primates. They have one baby at a time, grasping hands and feet, specialized dentition, etc. As for genotype which trait or traits, or are you thinking all of their DNA?
You know what, I thought this animal was a possum. I have never heard of an "Aye-Aye" before. Are these rare creatures?
Opossums are rodents, so that's not too far off. They are rare now because they are endangered, but they are only found on the island of Madagascar, hence why you may not have seen them yet. :)
Why must females be the dominate and breed every three years? I understand that everything happens for a reason but I would think if they breeded more often than every three years the Aye-Aye wouldn't be scarce.
The breeding cycle of any creature is related to their birthing cycle. Part of that three years is related to carrying and birthing young, followed by raising it (as primates typically have one baby at a time). To ensure the survivability of that offspring primates will space out births so they can concentrate on raising that offspring. This isn't a conscious decision. It is one regulated through biology as breastfeeding stops ovulation. As for females dominating why not? Why can't a female choose her own partner and when she wants to have sex?
So since they are hunted are they pretty slow animals or do they move pretty quick?
Josh Mitchell
when they are hunted do they people that hunt them eat them for food or are they just thrown away after they get killed?
josh Mitchell
it said the aye aye have continuously growing incisors, why do they have those if they just eat nuts, fruit, and grubs?
Josh Mitchell
Thank you for your comments, Josh, but as per the course syllabus and discussed in class and via email these are going to count as one substantive comment, which I am going to answer here. Regarding the speed of the Aye-Aye I am not quite sure. There are videos online that you can watch to get an idea, though. They are thrown away after being killed, although I am sure that some people may eat them if resources are scarce. Continuously growing incisors is a common trait among many animals, and typically these teeth are worn down through use (e.g. eating).
I think it's awesome how they check to see where the grub is on trees! I have never heard of these animals before I read this post.
I never knew what they was called until now I always thought that they was some kind of bat. I don't like them they are so ugly and scary looking.
Jaeda Lowe
I can't believe that the largest nocturnal primate in the world is only 14-17 inches and weighs only a few pounds! I feel like there would be other species of primates that have been more successful as nocturnal creatures. (Or have they just gone extinct in the last few thousand years?!?!)
As that isn't my area of research you would have to talk to someone, such as Dr. Andrei.
I have never heard of the aye-aye. The aye-aye is not the most beautiful creature. However it is totally wrong that they are becoming extinct because of the myth that follows them.
Dalyla Jordan
Is it fair to say this animal is a combination of a bat and a rodent? or are they just described as so? what makes an animal solitary?
They are 100% primate, but they are still described as rats because of their physical appearance. An animal is concerned solitary if they prefer to be alone, which is an odd primate trait as it is quite atypical. But that's part of the uniqueness of the Aye-Aye. :)
I'm feeling the Aye-Aye, man. He just wants to be to himself. But that's crazy how a lot of species have specific personalities.
-Tyler Armstrong
I came across this primate when i took antropology last year. I never knew these many facts about this primate. I always thought it was some kind of specie.
-Daisha Benton
Since the Aye-Aye has adapted to eating cultivated fruits because of environmental changes, is it possible for other primates to do the same?
I personally feel that this primate is very unique and as i would say could be another primate that could be related to the spiritual world. Because, why is that archaeologist feel that part of their extinction could be because they point their middle fingers at humans? that is very unique to me which is why i feel these primates could be somewhat slippery
I think its right by saying the threat against the Aye-Aye is human. because humans are the ones are who hunting the Aye-Aye. I don't fully believe that its just to keep them out of orchards and farms. The article its said that "they would be cursed if the Aye-Aye point at them so its best to get rid of it when the come in contact with it first. I don't think that's right to kill them when their not even hurting to them.
Ainya Lomax
I agree that the Aye Aye is sort of cute creature in a way and I'm amazed at how not only this animal, but all animals have unique things about them that they use to survive in everyday life. For example how a chameleon uses its skin, or how the Aye Aye uses it's elongated middle finger to search for food this is just amazing to me its like a world full of super heroes with separate powers.
Never seen this animal before.. But I would be frightened if this "Aye Aye" pointed at me. Especially if I knew nothing about and didn't know they were capable of doing that. Wouldn't give me a reason to kill it, but would give me a reason to leave it alone and maybe hide out for a couple of days. -Christopher McFadden
Akwila Cooks
The Aye Aye name sticks out as well as this primates face. I like how you said they remind you of Harry Potter because I also agree!
I also think that they can be a character from Madagascar and that is crazy because they are found in Madagascar. No matter what any kind of animal looks like I think its sad when the numbers are going down. It is also interesting that the Malagasi think that they are being cursed by them if they point the middle finger at them. It is so amazing how there are so many cultures in the world with different beliefs.
The Aye aye are very interesting, the family sort of runs the males life and that is different in terms of how everything works. Males are usually dominant over everyone else.
Have they figured out how they ended up on the island in the first place? Were they brought over from another part of the world and just died off elsewhere?
First, the Aye-Aye are not extinct (yet), so they have not yet died off. As for how they and other lemurs got there there is a reason. I cannot remember it off the top of my head. The island has existed for a long time and the species on it have evolved specifically to meet the environmental niches present there, hence why lemurs and other species only exist on Madagascar. If you do a quick search I'm pretty sure you can find the answer to when the island came to be. :)
I never knew there was an animal called the Aye-Aye which when I saw the name of this animal I thought it was quite hilarious and a unique name. These animals were not known to my knowledge until after I read the blog and now I am happy that I learned about them. - Mykia Chaney
The name AYE AYE is unique. Who would actually think that an animal goes by this name. I like how the aye aye used it middle finger to find food. I didnt know anything before reading this post.
While interesting that the Aye-Aye can survive in very different climates, the fact that they can only be found on one island is disturbing. If Madagascar were to suddenly freeze over, the Aye-Aye would become extinct.
I think its pretty cool that they find food by tapping their middle finger along dead tree branches. The Aye-Aye does kind of resemble the Lemur family. overall great post, learned some interesting things
-Tae'lor Pearson
AYE AYE'S are very unique. It's interesting that they capture them so that they won't get cursed by their middle finger.
- Malacia Lowe
This is my first time hearing about Aye Aye's. But its crazy knowing that every three years they are more dominate than the males.
-Kyla Thomas
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