Aye aye | the golden finger

The only representative of the genus Daubentonia, the aye aye is a singular nocturnal lemur. Combining incisive rodents, bat ears and squirrel tails, the lemur lives alone. It moves between the rising of the night, half an hour before night falls; and the beginning of the day, up to three hours after daybreak.

Can be easily recognized by its excessively long third finger, the Aye Aye probably gets its nickname from a vocalization it makes when it leaves its nest box.

The Aye Aye is one of the nocturnal lemurs that does not suffer the period of torpor, the morphology of its fingers allows it to ensure a diet rich in fat and protein throughout the year. And although it is a solitary animal, it is not unusual to see two or three Aye Aye gathering in the quest of food.

Due to its discretion, it is difficult to find and observe an Aye Aye. The Aye Aye is also the subject of many superstitions. His third finger, which characterizes him and allows him to eat whatever the season, is a source of fear for men. Seeing an Aye Aye near a place to live is often considered as a bad omen. Moreover, this feared major is sometimes used as a talisman by wizards.