Virtual Flash Cards

10 of the weirdest primate species

#1

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Photo credit: nomis-simon/Creative Commons
what is thIS PRIMATE'S common name?
AYE-AYE
What is the scientific name?
Daubentonia madagascariensis
​WHAT KIND OF PRIMATE IS THIS?
PROSIMIAN
Where do they live?
Like all members of the lemur family, aye-ayes can only be found on the African island of Madagascar.
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Africa
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Where aye-ayes live. Map: Alex Dunkel/Creative Commons
New world or old world?
OLD WORLD
fascinating facts
  • Aye-ayes are members of the lemur family
  • They were thought to be extinct until the mid-1900's
  • They are the largest nocturnal primate
  • Lore considers aye-ayes to be harbingers of bad luck because of their eerie appearances
  • However, their unique adaptations benefit their environment
What threatens their future?
The greatest threat to the aye-aye is the widespread deforestation that continues to put all of Madagascar’s primates at risk.

The aye-aye’s strange and menacing appearance has not helped the species garner protection among locals, who regard them as ill omens and harbingers of bad luck. It is not uncommon for an aye-aye to be killed by humans, either because of superstition or because he or she is seen as a crop pest.
​WHAT IS their CONSERVATION STATUS?
ENDANGERED
What Does this Conservation Status mean?
Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild
Any species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable is considered by conservation scientists to be a threatened species
​HERE'S A SNAPSHOT AND THE SPECIES' PROFILE
Click or tap on the graphic to enlarge it
​LEARN MORE ABOUT aye-ayes
Go to the aye-aye Primate Species Profiles page
are aye-ayes good pets?
NO
  1. Aye-ayes are nocturnal and have very specific dietary and environmental needs. Those needs cannot possibly be met in human living conditions.
  2. To become pets, young primates are stolen from their mothers. As a result, they do not develop normally emotionally.
  3. Primates are never domesticated. They always remain wild. 
  4. Caged primates are very unhappy and frustrated. They are likely to resist confinement. They are quick and cause damaging bites and scratches. Some die as a result of their captivity.
  5. Many locations have strict regulations that prohibit trading in or keeping primates and endangered species are pets.
  6. Aye-ayes belong with other aye-ayes in Madagascar. They and their habitats must be protected, not exploited.
#PrimatesAreNotPets
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​Common names are not officially defined. They are based on everyday conversational language and may differ by country, region, profession, community, or other factors. As a result, it is not unusual for a species to have multiple common names.

Scientific names, on the other hand, are standardized and constant. They are Latinized and rule-bound by a formal naming system called binominal nomenclature. Scientific names prevent misidentification. They typically only change if a species is officially redesignated.
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The biological order of Primates is divided into these classifications:​
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​​New World monkeys are native to Central and South America.

Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia.
Learn about the differences between New World monkeys and Old World monkeys
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  • ​Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity.
  • Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant.
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess the species' risk of extinction.
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated.
Learn more about ​Conservation Statuses
Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2019. You may freely use and share these learning activities for educational purposes. 
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