Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
10 Amazing Aye-Aye Facts
1. Aye-ayes have a larger brain-to-body ratio than their closest relatives (lemurs and lorises).
2. Aye-ayes use percussive foraging to find food. This means they tap on wood with their long middle finger and listen for the echoes of insects, similar to knocking on wood to find a stud.
3. The aye-aye is the largest nocturnal primate in the world.
4. Because aye-ayes are almost completely arboreal, they seldom touch the ground.
5. According to Madagascan myth, the aye-aye is a sign of bad luck and must be killed immediately. This has led to mass killing, and they are now protected by law.
6. The word "aye-aye" most likely comes from the Malagasy phrase "I don't know.” Since aye-ayes are believed to bring bad luck, it is possible that people gave them a generic name to avoid speaking about them directly.
7. Aye-ayes have been described as a mix between a raccoon and a rat because of their long fur, oversized fingers, and extra-large ears.
8. Aye-ayes can only be found on Madagascar.
9. It has been scientifically documented that aye-ayes use their elongated middle fingers to pick their noses (and eat it).
10. Aye-ayes have the largest ears relative to body size of any primate.. This trait allows aye-ayes to hear prey deep inside of trees.
Check out our article for more interesting aye aye facts: factretriever.com/aye-aye-facts
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10 Amazing Aye-Aye Facts
1. Aye-ayes have a larger brain-to-body ratio than their closest relatives (lemurs and lorises).
2. Aye-ayes use percussive foraging to find food. This means they tap on wood with their long middle finger and listen for the echoes of insects, similar to knocking on wood to find a stud.
3. The aye-aye is the largest nocturnal primate in the world.
4. Because aye-ayes are almost completely arboreal, they seldom touch the ground.
5. According to Madagascan myth, the aye-aye is a sign of bad luck and must be killed immediately. This has led to mass killing, and they are now protected by law.
6. The word "aye-aye" most likely comes from the Malagasy phrase "I don't know.” Since aye-ayes are believed to bring bad luck, it is possible that people gave them a generic name to avoid speaking about them directly.
7. Aye-ayes have been described as a mix between a raccoon and a rat because of their long fur, oversized fingers, and extra-large ears.
8. Aye-ayes can only be found on Madagascar.
9. It has been scientifically documented that aye-ayes use their elongated middle fingers to pick their noses (and eat it).
10. Aye-ayes have the largest ears relative to body size of any primate.. This trait allows aye-ayes to hear prey deep inside of trees.
Check out our article for more interesting aye aye facts: factretriever.com/aye-aye-facts
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more amazing facts about the world and beyond: youtube.com/@UCZxmYOAglFN29DPr7mEaDLQ
