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Fossa - CRYPTOPROCTA FEROX
Endangered
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Fossa": "Fossa" is an unknown word, but probably word from a native language of the island of Madagascar, off the African eastern coast.
Location: Madagascar.
Habitat: Arboreal. Tropical and subtropical forest.
Description: The coat is smooth, thick, and reddish brown. This unusual species has survived on the island of Madagascar, where it is the largest native carnivore. It has some features found in the cat family, such as a relatively short face, reduction in posterior teeth, and retractile claws. Unlike other viverrids, which typically have 36 teeth, the fossa only has 32. The female has a double uterus. It is plantigrade, and has five powerful and completely retractile claws on each foot. There are small anal glands in an anal pouch. The head and body are 24 to 30 inches long, with the tail almost as long. They weigh 11 to 13 pounds.
Behavior: The fossa is nocturnal and solitary. It lives in the thickest parts of the forest, where it moves nimbly among the branches and easily scales tall tree trunks. It feeds mostly on animals, and because it often attacks and kills domestic animals it is hunted by local people, who also eat it.
Reproduction: Mating has only been observed in captivity and takes place in late April. After about ten weeks, two or three young are produced. The fossa reaches sexual maturity at about five years of age.
Go to the Carnivore Page to learn more about all the meat-eating animals.
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