It is certainly a most bizarre looking primate, and was described by John Cleese as "hacing the teeth of a rodent, the ears of a bat, the tail of a fox, the hands of a witch and the fur of a microwaved cat." This is quite a fitting description. The aye-aye is adapting for its lifestyle quite successfully. Its long incisors are useful for tearing apart bark or ripping the shell from hard nuts, and then it can use its elongated middle digit to scoop out the pulp. These are also useful when hunting grubs, another favoured food source, for the aye-aye is the only lemur species to still have claws, not nails, and with these it can spear grubs to eat.

A solitary creature, aye-ayes make nests to sleep in during the daylight hours, being a nocturnal beast. These shelters are constructed in tree forks where green twigs can be wrapped around the branches and they can last for years, with more bits and pieces being added.

Probably the biggest threat to the Aye-aye is deforestation, the threat to all Lemur species, but it is also facing up against adversity from the Malagasy. They consider it a Harbinger of Death. If one sleeps in the woods, the aye-aye will weave a mat and place it under the head or feet of the person. If it is placed under its feet, the person will die within a short period of time. If placed beneath the head, they will live a long and fruitful live. There are other superstitions too. A dead aye-aye brings bad luck, and so it is customary to take the dead beast and put it somewhere else, such as your neighbours backyard. They in turn will pass it on, making for a very macabre game of pass the parcel! If an aye-aye points its long "magic" finger at you, you will die a horrible death, and therefore the natives kill them before this can happen, quickly passing on the corpse. Unlike other lemur species, it is not used for food.

Further Readings:
The Aye-aye and I - by the great Gerald Durrell.