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LemursAdaptations in the Aye-aye: A Review

Lemurs: Adaptations in the Aye-aye: A Review CHAPTER EIGHT Adaptations in the Aye-aye: A Review Eleanor J. Sterling and Erin E. McCreless INTRODUCTION The aye-aye is one of the most unique primates in the world. In 1863, Richard Owen, foreshadowing contemporary intelligent design arguments, posited that the aye-aye’s unique qualities provided clear evidence that Darwin’s theory of natural selection must be wrong (Owen, 1863). Owen, the most eminent British anatomist of his time, detailed the aye-aye’s distinctive dental and digital mor- phology, briefly described how naturalists at the time thought the animal uses these morphological features to acquire food, and concluded that only God could have created an animal so well adapted to its environment. Indeed, the aye-aye has a number of morphological traits that set it apart from other primates and allow it to exploit resources unavailable to most other animals in Madagascar (Figure 1). It also exhibits behavioral characteristics that distinguish it from most other lemurs. Recent research on aye-ayes has begun to overcome obstacles to observ- ing these animals and has started to shed light on the mysterious social habits of this species. As we learn more about the aye-aye, we find more ways in which it is similar to other lemur species, http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

LemursAdaptations in the Aye-aye: A Review

Part of the Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospect Book Series
Editors: Gould, Lisa; Sauther, Michelle L.
Sterling, Eleanor J.; McCreless, Erin E.
Lemurs — Jan 1, 2007
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References (42)

Publisher
Springer US
Copyright
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007
ISBN
978-0-387-34585-7
Pages
159–184
DOI
10.1007/978-0-387-34586-4_8
Publisher site
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Abstract

CHAPTER EIGHT Adaptations in the Aye-aye: A Review Eleanor J. Sterling and Erin E. McCreless INTRODUCTION The aye-aye is one of the most unique primates in the world. In 1863, Richard Owen, foreshadowing contemporary intelligent design arguments, posited that the aye-aye’s unique qualities provided clear evidence that Darwin’s theory of natural selection must be wrong (Owen, 1863). Owen, the most eminent British anatomist of his time, detailed the aye-aye’s distinctive dental and digital mor- phology, briefly described how naturalists at the time thought the animal uses these morphological features to acquire food, and concluded that only God could have created an animal so well adapted to its environment. Indeed, the aye-aye has a number of morphological traits that set it apart from other primates and allow it to exploit resources unavailable to most other animals in Madagascar (Figure 1). It also exhibits behavioral characteristics that distinguish it from most other lemurs. Recent research on aye-ayes has begun to overcome obstacles to observ- ing these animals and has started to shed light on the mysterious social habits of this species. As we learn more about the aye-aye, we find more ways in which it is similar to other lemur species,

Published: Jan 1, 2007

Keywords: Home Range; Middle Finger; Sexual Size Dimorphism; Estrous Female; Gray Mouse Lemur

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