The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox; / ˈfɒsə / FOSS-ə or / ˈfuːsə / FOO-sə; [3] Malagasy: [ˈfusə̥]) is a slender, long-tailed, cat-like mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the carnivoran family Eupleridae.
Fossa pups make a purring sound when nursing or near their mother. Fossas are ready to start their first family when they are about four years old, and breeding season is between September and December.
Fossas are medium sized, slender creatures with both feline and canine features: having a sleek body; short, strong legs; large catlike paws with sharp claws; round ears and a canine-like snout; and a very long tail.
The unusual-looking fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) from Madagascar looks like a puma and has both canine and feline features. It is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island, and preys mainly on lemurs, pursuing them through the trees with remarkable speed and agility.
Deep within the ancient forests of Madagascar lurks a creature of mystery and myth, an animal often mistaken for a wild cat, yet possessing a lineage all its own. This is the Fossa, a truly unique predator that stands as the island’s largest native carnivore.
Fossa, (Cryptoprocta ferox), largest carnivore native to Madagascar, a catlike forest dweller of the civet family, Viverridae. The fossa grows to a length of about 1.5 metres (5 feet), including a tail about 66 centimetres (26 inches) long, and has short legs and sharp, retractile claws.
A relative of the mongoose, the fossa is unique to the forests of Madagascar, an African island in the Indian Ocean. Growing up to 6 feet long from nose to tail tip, and weighing up to 26 pounds,...