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Fossa
Cryptoprocta ferox

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WILD STATUS
Endangered.

DISTRIBUTION
Only found on Madagascar in coastal regions and in mountainous areas up to 762m (2500 ft).

SIZE
Males weigh 6-10 kg (13-22 lbs), females weigh 5-7 kg (11-15 lbs).
Length 60-75 cm (24”-30”).
Height 36-40 cm (14”-16”).

HABITAT
Rainforests and lower altitude bush.

REPRODUCTION
2-4 young born in a burrow, tree hole or den after a 3 month gestation. Mother is sole caretaker.

DIET
Fossa are the dominant predator on Madagascar. Their main food is lemurs as well as birds, insects and reptiles.

INTERESTING TIDBITS
  • Until recently the Fossa was thought to be a cat because of its feline appearance, but it is a member of the mongoose family.
  • Fossas are extremely shy and flee from human contact.
  • Pronounced “foosh” in Malgasy, the language of Madagascar.
  • Fossa are persecuted relentlessly as a chicken thief by farmers.
  • Madagascar has only eight percent of its forests left. Loss of habitat is the biggest concern for the survival of the fossa.
  • They are solitary except for during the mating season, nocturnal and crepuscular.
  • They have retractable claws and razor-like teeth making the fossa a formidable predator.
  • Fossas have excellent balance and tree-climbing ability and can leap from one tree to another and clamber down the trunk with the agility of a squirrel.
  • Born blind, toothless and about as large as a kitten, baby fossas don’t open their eyes until they are three weeks old and remain in the burrow until they are four months old.
  • The fossa has a flat-footed (plantigrade) stance and webbed feet.
  • They are incredible climbers and can run down tree trunks head first and leap from one vertical tree to another with great ease.
HABITAT RANGE
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ANIMAL FACT SHEET
To download this page and also get a full page photo of the Fossa click here for a PDF.

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