Called by some the “island that time forgot,” Madagascar is home to a vast array of
unique, exotic creatures. One such animal is the aye-aye. First described by western
science in 1782, it was initially categorized as a member of the order Rodentia. Further
research then revealed that it was more closely related to the lemur, a member of the
primate order. Since the aye-aye is so different from its fellow primates, however, it was
given its own family: Daubentoniidae. The aye-aye has been listed as an endangered
species and, as a result, the government of Madagascar has designated an island off the
northeastern coast of Madagascar as a protected reserve for aye-ayes and other wildlife.
Long before Western science became enthralled with this nocturnal denizen of
Madagascar’s jungles, the aye-aye had its own reputation with the local people. The aye
aye is perhaps best known for its large, round eyes and long, extremely thin middle finger.
These adaptations are quite sensible, allowing the aye-aye to see well at night and retrieve
grubs, which are one of its primary food sources, from deep within hollow branches.
However, the aye-aye’s striking appearance may end up causing its extinction. The people
of Madagascar believe that the aye-aye is a type of spirit animal, and that its appearance is
an omen of death. Whenever one is sighted, it is immediately killed. When combined with
the loss of large swaths of jungle habitat, this practice may result in the loss of a superb .