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Researchers discover aye-aye’s "pseudothumb"
The aye-aye is considered one of the world’s strangest animals.

Primate has an extra digit that may help it to grip objects

Researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered that aye-ayes possess tiny “psuedothumbs” which may help them to grip objects and move through trees.

The scientists were studying the tendons that lead to the aye-aye’s strange hands when they noticed that one of the tendons branched off to a small structure on the wrist.

Using traditional dissection imaging techniques, they discovered the structure comprised of both bone and cartilage, and has musculature that allows it to move in three directions - similar to that of a human thumb. The findings are published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.


“Using these digital techniques allows us to visualize these structures in three dimensions, and to understand the organization of the muscles which provide movement to the digit,” said Edwin Dickinson, who built the digital model of the anatomy and is the co-first author of the paper.


Co-author Adam Hartsone-Rose, said: “The pseudothumb is definitely more than just a nub. It has both a bone and cartilaginous extension and three distinct muscles that move it. The pseudothumb can wriggle in space and exert an amount of force equivalent to almost half the aye-aye’s body weight. So it would be quite useful for gripping.”

Native to Madagascar, the aye-aye is considered one of the world’s strangest animals. It is perhaps most well known for its long, slender finger that is used to find and spear grubs inside trees.


According to the researchers, the aye-aye may have developed the pseudothumb to compensate for its other, overspecialised fingers. Species such as the panda bear, for example, possess the same extra digit to aid in gripping because the standard bear paw lacks the dexterity to grasp objects.

Hartstone-Rose continues: “Some other primate species have reduced digits to aid in locomotion. The aye-aye is the first primate to dial digits up in the hand rather than dial them down. And it’s amazing that it’s been there the whole time, in this strangest of all primates, but no one has noticed it until now.” 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.