ExploreMammals

Fossa

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

Appearance

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.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderCarnivoraFamilyEupleridaeGenusCryptoprocta
Fossa
furry trait badgesolitary trait badgearboreal trait badgeambush_predator trait badge
Fossa

Category

Mammals

Rarity

Rare

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Snaps

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Interesting facts

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.

Special abilities

Ability

Tree Descender

Fossa can climb down trees head-first because of highly flexible ankle joints that help them grip branches.

Ability

Retractable Claws

Fossa has sharp, retractable claws, like a cat, that help them grip tree bark for amazing agility when climbing.

Ability

Night Vision Hunter

Fossa can hunt in the dark due to large, forward-facing eyes that gather more light, giving them excellent night vision.

Measurements & details

Length
70-80 cm
Weight
5.5-8.6 kg
Lifespan
10-20 years
Top Speed
55 km/h
Litter Size
1-6
Gestation
90-100 days

Diet & Feeding

A super hunter, the Fossa mostly eats lemurs, but also enjoys birds, reptiles, and insects.

Primary Foods

  • Lemurs
  • Birds
  • Reptiles
  • Rodents
  • Insects

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

Ring-tailed Lemur

Lemur catta

Main prey species.

hunts

Brown Lemur

Eulemur fulvus

A significant food source.

hunts

Common Tenrec

Tenrec ecaudatus

Often preys on smaller mammals.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Fossas are wild animals and should be admired from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Fossa?

70-80 cm

How much does Fossa weigh?

5.5-8.6 kg

How long does Fossa live?

10-20 years

How fast can Fossa move?

55 km/h

What does Fossa eat?

A super hunter, the Fossa mostly eats lemurs, but also enjoys birds, reptiles, and insects.

Where is Fossa usually found?

Forests

How does Fossa hunt?

Ambush

How many babies does Fossa usually have?

1-6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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