The Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
by National geo staff
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 (1.8 meters) long from nose to tail tip, and weighing up to 26 pounds (12 kilograms), the fossa is a slender-bodied catlike creature with little resemblance to its mongoose cousins.
It is the largest carnivore and top predator native to Madagascar and is known to feed on lemurs and most other creatures it can get its claws on, from wild pigs to mice. Unlike mongooses, and more like felines, the fossa has retractable claws and fearsome catlike teeth. Its coat is reddish brown and its muzzle resembles that of a dog.
The fossa is also equipped with a long tail that comes in handy while hunting and maneuvering amongst the tree branches. It can wield its tail like a tightrope walker’s pole and moves so swiftly through the trees that scientists have had trouble observing and researching it…
(read more: National Geo) (photo: Luke Dollar)
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( It is actually not clearly understood how closely related the fossa is to mainland african/eurasian mongooses. It is clear that the Madagascan “mongooses” are all more closely related to each other. More than likely, the fossa and other malagasay mongooses should be considered a separate yet closely related group to “true mongooses”. - paxon)
