Fossa
Cryptoprocta ferox
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.
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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