



Cryptoprocta ferox
The fossa is a unique animal that looks like a mix between a cat and a dog! It is a great climber and loves to explore the trees in its home in Madagascar.
Habitat: Forests
The Fossa is a sleek, cat-like mammal with a reddish-brown coat and a very long tail almost equal to its body length. It has short, rounded ears, large forward-facing eyes, and a muscular, slender body.




Category
MammalsRarity
Rare
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Fossas are actually related to mongooses, not cats! Wow!
Fossas can make purring sounds, just like house cats!
Juvenile female fossas temporarily look like males. Amazing!
They are Madagascar's only apex land predator.
Fossa can climb down trees head-first because of highly flexible ankle joints that help them grip branches.
Fossa has sharp, retractable claws, like a cat, that help them grip tree bark for amazing agility when climbing.
Fossa can hunt in the dark due to large, forward-facing eyes that gather more light, giving them excellent night vision.
A super hunter, the Fossa mostly eats lemurs, but also enjoys birds, reptiles, and insects.

Lemur catta
Main prey species.
Eulemur fulvus
A significant food source.
Tenrec ecaudatus
Often preys on smaller mammals.
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range.
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Fossas are wild animals and should be admired from a distance.
70-80 cm
5.5-8.6 kg
10-20 years
55 km/h
A super hunter, the Fossa mostly eats lemurs, but also enjoys birds, reptiles, and insects.
Forests
Ambush
1-6
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