Project Chimera had originally been an experiment to see if DNA from multiple animal species can be combined into one. A two-headed anaconda was chosen to be the first subject for the project. But that project never started because it was soon learned that combining animals that are too different from each other will tear the DNA apart. The furthest from possible species to blend were fish and snakes, namely to give the uplifted fish of particular type locomotion on land. Though Project Chimera wasn't a completely lost cause. For one thing, the two-headed anaconda was eventually uplifted into Iphis and Ianthe which eventually lead to the start of Project Hermaphroditus. Eventually, Project Chimera was revived, but now it was focused on the uplifting of the most bizarre of Earth's vertebrates. And when it comes to primates, it doesn't get any weirder than the aye-aye.
Island isolation has been known to produce pretty strange species. Australia and New Zealand were defining proof of that. Madagascar is also populated by some rather strange species and the biggest contender for the top strangest is the aye-aye. The aye-aye is a member of the lemur family, though it has been confused for a rodent because of its constantly growing incisors. Other odd features are its batlike ears, creepy yellow eyes, and its very long middle finger. The aye-aye's middle finger is a multipurpose tool. It taps it on the trunks of trees, much like a woodpecker, and listens for hollows in which it may find grubs. After finding a hollow, the aye-aye chews the bark open with its incisors and then scrapes the hole open large enough to stick its finger in and grab the grub. When not in use, the aye-aye's finger rests on the back of its hand thanks to the ball-and-socket joint at the base.
Like many species of Madagascar, the aye-aye is threatened by deforestation and loss of habitat. But even moreso, the aye-aye is threatened by superstition. Due in no small part to its creepy, demonic appearance, the natives of Madagascar believe the aye-aye is an evil spirit that causes bad luck and death and even now are still being killed on sight. Thankfully, zoos in other countries have been breeding the aye-ayes in captivity. Somehow a pair had ended up the possession of the Costa Rican drug lord who had been busted and were shipped with the rest of the menagerie to Lyre. That pair ended up being uplifted and given the names Ike and Ikia.
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Since Dr. Jones already had enough on his plate, Dr. Banjo oversaw the aye-ayes acclimation to Animalia. "So, how are you two doing?" he asked.
"Still getting used to a lot," said Ike.
"Like having my teats so far up my body," said Ikia, indicating her breasts. Their humanoid bodies made them somewhat attractive, though they seem to straddle the line between cute and creepy.
"There are plenty of former animals who have had to deal with relocated mammary glands," said Dr. Banjo, "But you are getting used to human society, right?"
"I'm not so sure if human society will get used to us," said Ike.
"Well, the current government may be trying to restrict our rights..." started Dr. Banjo.
"No, I mean us, specifically," said Ike.
"We've read what's happened to the aye-ayes back in Madagascar," said Ikia, "If they do that with simple animals, what would humans do with us?"
"I assure you that superstition is not so prevalent in this part of the world in this century," said Dr. Banjo, "Third-world countries like Madagascar do not have standardized education for all their citizens, which is why superstition there is so prevalent. The worst you'll find in the United States are people who won't go near black cats."
"So nobody will try to kill me if I pointed my finger at anyone," said Ike, waving his middle finger around on his hand. While the other four fingers on his hand were fairly human-like, albeit with sharp claws. But his middle finger retained its great length compared to the others as well as its flexibility.
"Not for superstitious reasons, but that is considered a very rude gesture," said Dr. Banjo flatly, "A whole village won't try to kill you for pointing that finger here, but a bar full of drunk people are likely to beat you up for it."
"Oh," said Ike, "So I should just keep it to myself then."
"Those other people seemed impressed with them," said Ikia.
"More like they're impressed that you can flip the ultimate bird," said Dr. Banjo.
"What bird?" asked Ikia, looking up towards the ceiling.
Dr. Banjo sighed and said, "I'm going to recommend you two do an extended course on human niceties. Endangered species or not, we can't have you unwittingly insulting everyone you meet."