Daubentoniidae – Giant aye-aye
Thought to be extinct in 1933, it was rediscovered in 1957
The Aye-aye is a lemur with unusually long fingers; it lives in the jungles of Madagascar. It has a distinct look and is the biggest species of nocturnal primate. At the time of its discovery, scientists classified it as a giant squirrel. Given that its closest lemur cousins are still a mystery even today, the aye-aye was placed in its own group and was not included in the lemur family until the mid-1800s.
However, over a substantial portion of their native habitat, these scarce species are in grave jeopardy. By 1980, it was widely assumed that aye-ayes had become extinct, primarily due to locals’ habit of shooting them dead at sight out of superstition.
Genera in this family
Thought to be extinct in 1933, it was rediscovered in 1957