Fossa, Madagascar

The fossa is a unique carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar, often described as looking like a cross between a cat, a dog, and a mongoose.  It is the island’s largest predator, measuring up to 6ft (1.8m) in length from nose to tail and weighing between 13-22 lbs (6-10kg).

Its sender body, muscular limbs, and long tail help it move easily through the dense forests, especially in the trees.  With retractable claws and flexible ankles, the fossa is a skilled climber that can leap and balance with agility.  It can travel up to 16mi (26km) in a single day as it patrols its territory in search of food.

The fossa’s coat is typically bronze to brown, and its eyes are similarly coloured, which helps it blend into its forest surroundings.  It is an opportunistic and versatile hunter that preys mainly on lemurs but also eats birds, rodents, and reptiles.  Unlike many animals that follow a strict day or night schedule, the fossa doesn’t seem to be as fussy and hunts both day and night.

Fossas are mostly solitary and communicate mainly through scent.  Each individual as scent glands on its chest and at the base of hit tail.  They use these glands to mark territory and signal reproductive status, rubbing their scent on trees, rocks, and other surfaces to share information and avoid confrontation.

Reproduction in fossas is quite unusual.  Mating takes place in trees on horizontal limbs, often in the same location year after year, and the process can be quite lengthy.  After a gestation period of about three months, the female gives birth to up to six blind and helpless young, which she raises alone.  This solitary and secretive way of life adds to the mystery surrounding this remarkable predator of Madagascar.