MovieChat Forums > Rango (2011) Discussion > 'Aye-Aye' don't understand (pardon the p...

'Aye-Aye' don't understand (pardon the pun)

posted 11 years ago by klarson123
3 replies | jump to latest

Why is the cactus mouse character (Melissa??) referred to as an "aye-aye", when an aye-aye is a species of lemur found (like other lemurs) only in Madagascar (the island as well as the movie franchise)? Centuries ago, before being classified as a primate, the aye-aye was considered a rodent, thus it may have been regionally called a "cactus mouse" due to its feeding on the cacti and other plants and fruits in its habitat. But the cactus mouse of American Deserts (of the Peromescus [sp?] genus) featured in Rango is def./obviously a true rodent--are they called 'aye-ayes' in certain regions?

[–] loyulr 10 years ago

According to the creator, they intentionally created the character of Melissa from "aye-aye", even they know that aye-aye is not desert animal. For more details you may see special feature of Rango, "The Real Creature of Dirt".

[–] ProfessorFrink79 9 years ago

She looks nothing like an aye-aye, the lemur, and nor do aye-ayes eat cactus (they are insectivores). It's my understanding that she is a cactus mouse, plain and simple, and nothing to do with lemurs, but it was claimed by someone involved in the film (I forget who) that aye-aye is an alternative name for this animal. However, my wife, who is a zoologist, says she has never heard of this name for cactus mice.

When life gives you lemons, shut up and eat the damn lemons.

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

Details! Details!

Boom.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.