Living in Gettysburg for nearly 18 years, I have seen my fair share of ghosts. That is what I would say if ghosts were real. But for the town and for many small businesses, the connection of Gettysburg to the spirits of the Great Beyond is crucially important for tourism, regardless of its scientific accuracy. However, in some cultures, superstition and its specters form a cornerstone of the real world.

The Aye-Aye. Image Source.

Meet Daubentonia madagascariensis, commonly known as the Aye-Aye. These are the world’s largest nocturnal primates and only live on the island of Madagascar. Adults can be as long as 41 inches from head to tail and weigh up to 4 pounds. They spend their lives purely in trees and avoid traveling to the ground. Aye-Ayes are omnivores, primarily subsisting on insect larvae and grubs with the occasional fruit.

The diet of the Aye-Aye requires adaptations that makes them look incredibly strange. The most noticeable of these physical traits is the elongated middle finger. Aye-Ayes use this special digit to tap the bark of trees in search of larvae. The second outlandish adaptation, their huge ears, pick up the vibrations of any insects or insect tunnels inside. This method, known as percussive foraging, makes the Aye-Aye unique once again among primates for its primary hunting practice. Once an Aye-Aye finds an insect, it uses its third special adaptation, massive incisors, to tear away outer layers of bark. These teeth are continually growing, once again unique to primates. The Aye-Aye then uses its middle finger to fish for the insect. Aye-ayes also use their middle finger as a tool when they consume fruits or seeds.

Image Source.

Ecologically, the aye-aye satisfies a highly specialized niche within the environment. They fulfill a role similar to woodpeckers and only compete for food with other aye-ayes. In a world without humans, this would serve the aye-aye extremely well. But a combination of their spooky appearance and reliance upon forests has recently cost the species dearly. Some indigenous cultures of Madagascar consider the Aye-Aye a bad omen and kill it on sight. They believe that these primates have the power to cause death. Combined with rapid habitat loss due to logging and hunting, the aye-aye is in an increasingly dire situation. The IUCN Red List states that the endangered species has a decreasing population trend, which legal protections have not done enough to stop.

A harbinger of death. Image Source.

In the end, the Aye-Aye fulfills a valuable niche in its community despite its spooky methods and appearance. This teaches humans an important lesson: even though something–or someone–may look or act spooky, we cannot judge the character of that thing or person until we truly understand them.

Happy Halloween!

Cover Image Source.