What is the fossa?
Q: What is the fossa?
A: The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae family, which is closely related to the mongoose family (Herpestidae).
Q: How does its classification influence thought about how many times mammalian carnivores had colonized Madagascar?
A: Its classification influenced thought about how many times mammalian carnivores had colonized Madagascar. Genetic studies now show that the fossa and all other Malagasy carnivores are closely related to each other, suggesting they are part of a single clade, or family - Eupleridae. This suggests that carnivorans likely colonized the island once about 18 to 20 million years ago.
Q: What size and weight do adult fossas reach?
A: Adults have a head-body length of 70–80 cm (28–31 in) and weigh between 5.5 and 8.6 kg (12 and 19 lb). Males tend to be larger than females.
Q: What physical traits allow them to climb trees?
A: The fossa has semiretractable claws and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and down trees head-first, as well as jump from tree to tree.
Q: What type of habitat do they live in?
A: Fossas are found only in forested habitats and hunt by day or night for their prey.
Q: What animals make up their diet?
A: Over 50% of their diet consists of lemurs, with tenrecs, rodents, lizards, birds, and other animals also being preyed upon by the fossa.
Q: How long until infants become independent?
A: Infants wean after 4.5 months old and become independent after one year old when they reach sexual maturity at three or four years old.
