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Nocturnal Adaptations of the Strange Aye-Aye — Reading Comprehension

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This engaging reading passage, integrated with audio, takes grade 5 students on a journey to discover the fascinating nocturnal adaptations of the aye-aye. Students will learn how this unique lemur uses its specialized features, like its long middle finger and big ears, to thrive in its nighttime environment. The passage introduces key concepts like 'nocturnal' and 'habitat' and explains how these adaptations are crucial for the aye-aye's survival, aligning with the NGSS standard LS4.C: Adaptation. The content includes relevant SEO keywords such as animal adaptations, nocturnal animals, and Madagascar, making it a valuable educational resource.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Aye-Aye-nocturnal — Illustration showing the unique aye-aye. it is active at night and sleeps during the day.

Meet the Aye-Aye
The aye-aye is one of the world’s strangest and most amazing nocturnal animals. It lives in the rainforests of Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa. The aye-aye is a type of primate, like lemurs and monkeys, but it has some very special features that help it survive at night.

Super Senses for the Night
As a nocturnal animal, the aye-aye sleeps during the day and is active at night. Its body has many adaptations for living in darkness. The aye-aye’s huge eyes are like night-vision goggles. Its eyes can gather a lot of light, helping it see even when it is almost pitch black. Behind each eye is a shiny layer called the tapetum that bounces light back so the aye-aye can see better. This is why their eyes glow in the dark!

The aye-aye’s ears are large, thin, and shaped like radar dishes. Each ear can move on its own to listen for the smallest sounds. The aye-aye has extremely sensitive hearing and can even hear insects moving inside tree bark. It uses its ears almost like echolocation to find food, listening for hollow sounds or movements.

The Magic Middle Finger
The aye-aye has a super-long, thin, and bendy middle finger. It taps on trees up to 8 times per second, listening for echoes that mean insects are hiding inside. When it finds a hollow spot, it uses this finger like a hook to pull out juicy grubs and bugs. It’s like having a built-in bug-catching tool!

Other Nighttime Survival Tricks
During the day, the aye-aye makes a nest in the trees to sleep safely. Its dark fur helps it blend in with tree shadows so predators don’t spot it. The aye-aye’s long whiskers help it feel its way in the dark. Its teeth grow all the time and are strong enough to gnaw through bark to reach insects.

Conservation: A Species in Danger
The aye-aye is endangered because of habitat loss and because some people are afraid of it due to superstition. Protecting the aye-aye also means protecting Madagascar’s rainforests and all the living things that depend on this habitat.

Interesting Fact:
The tap-tap-listening technique is unique among primates—the aye-aye is the only one that hunts this way!

Where does the aye-aye live?

MadagascarAustraliaBrazilIndia

What is the aye-aye's special finger for?

Catching insectsClimbing fasterEating fruitMaking nests

Why do the aye-aye's eyes glow?

They have a tapetumThey are always openThey are very smallThey have no eyelids

How does the aye-aye find food inside trees?

It taps and listensIt digs with teethIt sniffs the barkIt waits for insects

Why is the aye-aye endangered?

Habitat loss and superstitionEats too muchToo many babiesToo much rain

What helps the aye-aye blend in?