What is the scientific name of the aye-aye, a primate found only in Madagascar's rainforests?

The scientific name of the aye-aye, a primate found only in Madagascar's rainforests, is Daubentonia madagascariensis.

The aye-aye is a distinctive lemur and the only living member of its genus and family. It is nocturnal, spending much of the night moving through Madagascar's forest canopy in search of food. Its scientific name combines the genus Daubentonia with the species name madagascariensis, reflecting its island home.

This primate has several unusual adaptations. It taps on branches to detect hollow spaces, gnaws into wood with continuously growing incisors, and uses an exceptionally long, narrow middle finger to extract grubs. This feeding technique fills an ecological role somewhat like that of a woodpecker, even though the aye-aye is a mammal.

A common mix-up is confusing the aye-aye with other Malagasy lemurs. Propithecus verreauxi is the Verreaux's sifaka, Microcebus murinus is the gray mouse lemur, and Lemur catta is the ring-tailed lemur. The aye-aye is classified as Endangered and faces threats from habitat loss and persecution.