The fossa is the top predator in Madagascarīeing the largest carnivore on the Pacific island nation of Madagascar, the fossa enjoys the status of top predator native to the country. They were formerly placed in the civet cat family Viverridae, before becoming reclassified into their own family of Eupleridae – a group of native Malagasy carnivores. They are elusive creatures and not much is known about them scientifically. ![]() Young fossas reach sexual maturity at about four years of age.įossas are becoming endangered because they are losing their habitat – their native home in the forests of Madagascar has been damaged to the point that only 10 percent remains in its original intact state. The pups will continue to stay with the mother until they are around 2 years old before finding their own way in the wild. When it comes time to give birth, the female fossa will dig an underground den where the white-haired, blind and toothless pups will stay for at least the first four months. The gestation period is around 60 days and the litter size is usually between two and four young, although it can be up to six in size. They howl and roar to compete and intimidate, while the female makes mewing sounds to attract her mate. Once the female has chosen the site, several males will then compete for mating rights. The female fossa selects a specific branch where mating will take place this certain tree may well continue to be used for several subsequent mating rituals by other females during the same season. Fossa are seasonal breeders and reproduce annually, between September and December. They are solitary creatures except during breeding and when the females are raising their young. It’s possible for them to grow up to 6 feet in length from nose to tail-tip and, with their weight of up to 26 pounds for a fully-grown adult, fossas are the largest carnivore in Madagascar. Their bodies are covered in a close, dense fur that is usually a reddish or golden brown in color, often with a paler underside. They are carnivorous mammals, and feed mainly on lemurs – another Madagascan native – along with birds, reptiles and other small mammals.įossas are ambush hunters, meaning that they stalk or chase their prey, use their forelimbs and claws to catch it and then their sharp teeth to quickly kill it. ![]() They are both terrestrial and arboreal and inhabit widespread forested areas all over Madagascar, where they hunt their prey both high in the trees and down on the ground.Īlthough they can be found in many parts of the country of Madagascar – from mountainous woodland areas down to the lowland, coastal forests – they mainly inhabit remote and isolated areas and are rarely seen.įossas are active both at night and during the day, but are generally more active at night. ![]() Not only does it resemble a cat, there are other characteristics that suggest a close relationship with viverrids, which include civets and binturong.Ĭarnivore – Lemurs, rodents, reptiles, birdsįossas are medium sized, slender creatures with both feline and canine features: having a sleek body short, strong legs large catlike paws with sharp claws round ears and a canine-like snout and a very long tail. Due to the physical traits of the Fossa, the classification of this animal has been controversial. It belongs to a family of carnivorans that are closely related to the mongoose family. The Fossa (pronounced ‘foosa’ or ‘foosh’) is a rare and elusive cat-like carnivorous mammal native to the island of Madagascar, off the East coast of Africa.
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