The fossa (or Cryptoprocta ferox) is a large mammal found in the forests of the island of Madagascar. It belongs to the family of Eupleridae, the Madagascan carnivores, of which the fossa is the largest. Mostly arboreal, the fossa has a long and slender cat-like build, with a tail almost as long as its body. Its fur is uniformly tan-brown. The fossa has rounded ears, a round nose, and yellow eyes resembling that of a cat. Males and females look alike, and are between 61cm to 80cm long, with the tail adding another 60cm to 75cm. Fossas weigh 5kg to 9kg.
Latin Name
Cryptoprocta ferox
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Animal Facts
Fossa are unique among carnivores in that they use a polyandrous mating system, where one female will control a territory and mate with multiple males.
Fossa are a member of the Eupleridae family, whose closest relatives are the continental African mongooses. They are thought to have evolved to be very large due to becoming an isolated population on Madagascar 21 millions of years ago.
Fossa are the largest carnivores that live on Madagascar.
Fossa mostly prey on lemurs, which make up 50% of their diet.
Fossa climb down trees face first in a similar way to squirrels.
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