aye-aye
(plural: ‘aye-ayes)
an aye-aye
an animal – mammal – looks like a big squirrel with a long bushy tail; face is like that of a mouse (rodent) with large ears; it has long fingers; its body is about 35 cm with an extra 44 to 53 cm tail; weighs about two Kg.; belongs to primates (= the first rank of animal order which includes apes) and related to lemurs; found in the tree tops (canopy) of the rain forests of the island of Madagascar, Africa
It is the largest night-feeding (nocturnal) primate. It finds its main food, insects and grub, in a strange way: like a woodpecker (bird), it listens to or feels the movements of insects under the tree barks, makes holes with its sharp teeth, puts its middle finger which is three times longer than the other fingers in that hole and scoops out the insect or grub.
The sad thing is it is killed by the local people not for food but because of the superstition (= wrong or baseless belief) that the aye-aye, which looks weird with its round shiny eyes in its narrow head, is a bad omen (sign), in fact, it is considered a death messenger!
About the Author:BC Kumar
BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.
