Aye-aye lemur picks nose using the entire length of its finger
- Rhinotillexis is the scientific term for nose picking.
- Nose picking is common in humans and remains poorly understood.
- There are several primates known for nose picking and ingesting the nasal mucus.
- Researchers speculated that nose picking may have benefits.
- Researchers observed the first evidence of nose picking in lemurs and relatives with an interesting video showing aye-aye picking its nose.
- Researchers found that the animal inserts the full length (8 centimeter) of its middle finger into the nasal openings and then licks the nasal mucus.
- Additionally, researchers discovered that the nose picking behavior can be observed in more than 12 species of primates.
- Future studies about nose picking in other species of primates and vertebrates may add knowledge on its evolution and perhaps functional role.
Sources:
A.‐C. Fabre et al. (2022) A review of nose picking in primates with new evidence of its occurrence in Daubentonia madagascariensis, Journal of Zoology. DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13034. https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jzo.13034
Related Links:
Research Summary: Delimiting Species without Nuclear Monophyly in Madagascar’s Mouse Lemurs
ABSTRACT Background Speciation begins when populations become genetically separated through a substantial reduction in gene flow, and it is at this point that a genetically cohesive set of populations attain the sole property of species: the independent evolution of a population-level lineage. The comprehensive delimitation of species within biodiversity hotspots, regardless of their level of … Continue reading
Research Summary: Total Energy Expenditure and Body Composition in Two Free-Living Sympatric Lemurs
ABSTRACT Background Evolutionary theories that account for the unusual socio-ecological traits and life history features of group-living prosimians, compared with other primates, predict behavioral and physiological mechanisms to conserve energy. Low energy output and possible fattening mechanisms are expected, as either an adaptive response to drastic seasonal fluctuations of food supplies in Madagascar, or persisting … Continue reading
