Original Research Article
Folia Primatol 2018;89:123–137
DOI: 10.1159/000486673
Behaviour and Ecology of Male Aye-Ayes
(Daubentonia madagascariensis ) in the
Kianjavato Classified Forest, South-Eastern
Madagascar
Doménico Roger Randimbiharinirina
a
Brigitte M. Raharivololona
a
Melissa T.R. Hawkins
b
Cynthia L. Frasier
b
Ryan R. Culligan
b
Timothy M. Sefczek
c
Richard Randriamampionona
d
Edward E. Louis Jr.
b, d
a
Mention Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, Domaine Sciences et Technologie,
Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar;
b
Bill and Berniece Grewcock Center
for Conservation and Research, Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha’s Henry
Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, NE, USA;
c
Department of Anthropology, Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH, USA;
d
Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, Manakambahiny,
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Keywords
Activity budget · Diet · Home range · Nocturnal strepsirrhines · Primate · Territory
Abstract
Previous studies found that aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) consume a
variety of non-invertebrate resources, supporting the hypothesis that aye-ayes are too
large-bodied to focus feeding efforts on insects. However, these conclusions were based
on introduced populations, with little known about aye-aye behaviour and ecology in
its natural habitat. This study investigates activity budgets, diet, and home range/terri-
tories of 2 male aye-ayes in the Kianjavato Classified Forest, a disturbed forest in south-
eastern Madagascar, from October 2013 to October 2014. We used radiotelemetry and
focal-animal sampling methods to collect behavioural data. We recorded GPS coordi-
nates of the focal animal every 20 min, calculating the home range size for each indi-
vidual. Results showed that male aye-ayes spent most of their time feeding and travel-
ling. Their feeding time primarily focussed on larvae and adult insects from various
substrates, and to a lesser extent Canarium spp. seeds. Home range sizes of the 2 males
varied between individuals, overlapped greatly, and appeared to be related to the loca-
tion of females. Our findings indicate that aye-aye behaviours are strongly indicative of
insect-centric feeding ecology. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel
Received: January 4, 2017
Accepted: November 10, 2017
Published online: March 27, 2018
Edward E. Louis Jr.
Bill and Berniece Grewcock Center for Conservation and
Research, Department of Conservation Genetics
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
3701 South 10th Street, Omaha, NE 68107 (USA)
E-Mail genetics @omahazoo.com
© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel
www.karger.com/fpr
E-Mail karger@karger.com