Aye-Aye Madagascar's Most Puzzling Primate - Folia Primatologica S.

Aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) are special in many ways: they are the only living representatives of their family, have unique foraging behaviour, and are the largest nocturnal primates. This publication represents the most comprehensive and current compilation of research on aye-ayes published to date, and contains new quantitative data from both field and captivity. It includes a historical, taxonomic review of the aye-aye, an exmanination of the subfossil giant aye-aye, and studies from three sites in north-east Madagascar, providing information on ranging, habitat preference and breeding cycles. Work on infant development as well as morphometric data on young animals are published for the first time. Further topics include cognitive aspects of extractive foraging, diet, characteristics of aye-aye food resources, vocalizations, positional behaviour, handedness, olfaction, husbandry and blood values. The broad spectrum of topics covered make this publication essential reading for all primatologists, especially for those with an interest in primate reproduction and social systems and those managing captive breeding programmes for this endangered lemur.