Nocturnal Adaptations of the Strange Aye-Aye — Reading Comprehension

A creature of the night, with enormous eyes that shine in the darkness and ears so large they catch every tiny sound, roams the forests of Madagascar. This isn’t a monster from a storybook; it’s the remarkable aye-aye, a unique type of lemur. The aye-aye is built for life after sunset, perfectly adapted to thrive in the shadows. This way of living is called being nocturnal, meaning it is active at night and sleeps during the day.  

How does an aye-aye survive in the darkness? It has amazing adaptations, which are special features or behaviors that help an animal live and thrive in its environment. One of the aye-aye's most famous tools is its super-long, skinny middle finger. This finger is not just long; it's also very flexible. The aye-aye uses it like a tiny drumstick, tapping on tree trunks. This tapping helps them find hidden tunnels made by insect larvae deep inside the wood. It's like having a built-in metal detector for bugs!

Once an aye-aye hears a grubs or beetle moving, it uses its sharp, strong teeth to gnaw a hole in the wood. Then, it inserts its long middle finger into the hole, hooks the insect, and pulls it out to eat. This unique hunting style, called percussive foraging, is a perfect example of natural selection at work. 

Over many years, aye-ayes with better tapping fingers and sharper hearing were better at finding food, surviving, and passing on these useful traits to their babies. Their large ears also help them listen for the tiniest sounds of insects moving inside trees. Big ears mean better hearing, which is essential for a nocturnal hunter.

Their big eyes are also crucial for seeing in very dim light, helping them navigate through the dense forest at night. The aye-aye's habitat is the rainforests of Madagascar, where they spend most of their lives high in the trees. These incredible nocturnal adaptations allow the aye-aye to find food and stay safe in its unique nighttime world.

Interesting Fact: The aye-aye is the world's largest nocturnal primate and is often mistaken for a rodent due to its large incisors and bushy tail.

What island does the aye-aye live on?

Which body part does the aye-aye use for tapping?

Aye-ayes are active during the day.

What does 'nocturnal' mean in the passage?

Why are the aye-aye's large ears important?

How do aye-ayes find insects inside trees?

Which animal below also has nocturnal adaptations?

What might happen if an aye-aye had small ears?