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Fanaloka - FOSSA FOSSA
Endangered
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Fanaloka": "Fanaloka" is of unknown origin, but is probably a word from one of the native languages of Madagascar - an island off the eastern coast of Africa.
Location: Madagascar.
Habitat: Arboreal. Tropical forests.
Description: The basic color of its relatively short, fine coat is pale beige, with a series of darker markings or stripes running lengthwise from head to tail. The underside of the body is lighter. There is a conspicuous white patch on the head near the rear corner of the ear. The legs are short and slender. The claws are not retractile. The fanaloka resembles the true civets but lacks anal glands. The length of the head and body is about 16 inches, with the tail adding about five inches. They weigh about five pounds.
Behavior: This rare carnivore preys on small vertebrates and insects, and steals eggs from nests. Little is known about this species because it is solitary, nocturnal, and lives in the heart of tropical forests. Rarity may be its normal population density, or it could have been caused by human interference with its habitat.
Reproduction: Nothing is known about its reproduction, as there have been few chances to study it in captivity.
Go to the Carnivore Page to learn more about all the meat-eating animals.
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