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The species name of the Aye-aye is Daubentonia madagascariensis.

The Aye-aye has a distinctive appearance, featuring large, bat-like ears, a bushy tail longer than its body, and coarse, dark brown or black fur. It has prominent, wide eyes adapted for nocturnal vision, and its most notable feature is the elongated, thin middle finger on each hand, used for foraging.

The Aye-aye has an omnivorous diet, primarily consisting of insect larvae, particularly wood-boring beetle larvae, as well as fruits, nuts, seeds, and nectar. Its specialized middle finger is key to extracting insects from tree bark and accessing the pulp inside fruits and seeds.

The Aye-aye is a nocturnal and solitary primate, known for its unique foraging behavior called "percussive foraging," where it taps on tree trunks with its elongated middle finger to locate insect larvae and then uses the same finger to extract them from the wood. It also uses this specialized finger to scoop out pulp from fruits and seeds.

The Aye-aye primarily inhabits Madagascar's rainforests, deciduous forests, and coastal areas, favoring dense, undisturbed forests with a mix of tree species where it can forage for insects, fruits, and seeds.

The Aye-aye plays a crucial ecological role as a seed disperser and insect predator. By feeding on seeds, fruits, and wood-boring insects, it helps maintain the health of Madagascar's forests, contributing to the balance of its ecosystem.

The Aye-aye (*Daubentonia madagascariensis*) is classified as **Endangered** on the IUCN Red List due to its declining population, primarily driven by habitat loss, hunting, and other human-related threats.

The Aye-aye faces threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion, cultural persecution driven by local superstitions, climate change impacting its environment, and competition or predation from invasive species.

Protected areas like Masoala National Park safeguard Aye-aye habitats, while initiatives conduct research and monitoring like the Duke Lemur Center. Community engagement efforts, such as those by the Alaotra Aye-aye Conservation Project, work to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and rehabilitation programs like those at Parc Ivoloina care for injured or orphaned Aye-ayes.

The public can support Aye-aye conservation by donating to wildlife organizations, spreading awareness, or participating in eco-friendly tourism in Madagascar.