The Aye-Aye

Meet the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), a creature so strange that early scientists couldn’t even decide if it was a rodent, a squirrel, or… something entirely new. Native to Madagascar and the largest nocturnal primate in the world, the aye-aye sports perpetually growing teeth, a bat-like ear for echolocation, and a freakishly long, bony middle finger that can hook grubs from deep inside tree trunks—or, yes, pick its own nose.

In this episode, we dive into its percussive foraging superpower, its evolutionary mystery, and why it fills the same ecological niche as a woodpecker.

Field Guide of Wonder is a companion to my main show The Wild Life, giving you quick, vivid snapshots of the planet’s most remarkable creatures.

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