According to local legends, the aye-aye is a demon that can kill just by pointing a finger. Not quite... but if you're a grub, its bizarre middle digit can be a deadly weapon.
", "is_us_only": "false", "title": "The Demon Primate", "url": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/mammals-animals/monkeys-and-lemurs/weirdest-demon-primate/", "country_code_deny_list": [], "allowUserEmbed": "True", "related": { "link": [ { "url": "http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/aye-aye/", "name": "Aye-Aye Animal Profile" } ] }, "credit": "National Geographic", "smil": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/data/xml/weirdest-demon-primate.smil", "country_code_allow_list": [], "HTML5src": "/video/player/media-mp4/weirdest-demon-primate/mp4/variant-playlist.m3u8", "still": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/exposure/core_media/ngphoto/image/49986_0_616x346.jpg", "transcript": "Narration:
This is the aye-aye, a kind of lemur, found only on the island of Madagascar.
Local legends cast it as a demon, a creature that can kill just by pointing a finger.
The truth is more natural than supernatural...but they're right about the finger.
To find its prey, it uses a multi-purpose digit.
The changes in sound build a mental map of hollow channels inside.
It cups its ears to gather the slightest vibration that could signify something to eat...like a grub.
Sharp incisors rip away the bark.
Its bony middle finger changes roles from a scanner...to a scraper.
It claws in and out of gaps, enlarging the hole.
The grub doesn't know what the aye-aye is, but it does know what it means-death if it can't wriggle away.
The aye-aye locks in. The finger transforms into a hook. A sharp fingernail impales the grub.
It's dragged up, out-and into-the aye-aye's mouth.
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