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Fossa
Carnivora Viverridae
Cryptoprocta ferox
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The Fossa is the largest carnivore (a meat-eating animal) on the island of Madagascar. It has no natural enemies, but is in danger of extinction because the forest is disappearing.
Body length: 61-80cm
Tail length: 65-90cm
Weight: Male 6-12kg / Female 5-7kg
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
The Fossa only lives on Madagascar, a big island located in the Indian Ocean.
The Fossa is a meat-eater that eats small animals and birds, as well as insects and frogs. Sometimes it catches lemurs.
The Fossa looks like a cat, but is actually a close relative of the mongoose. Scientists think that it was related to cats a long time ago.
Find out more about the Fossa!
The King of the Madagascan jungle!
The Fossa is known as the "King of the Madagascan jungle." In spite of its nickname, it is not even one meter long. It is a large carnivorous animal that lives on Madagascar, an island that split from Africa a long, long time ago, resulting in a number of animals that evolved in unique ways. The Fossa is a great tree climber. It spends most of its time up in the trees, and sometimes catches nimble lemurs.
Pushed towards extinction by disappearing forests, but that's not all...
Forests are rapidly disappearing on Madagascar. Although it has no natural enemies, the Fossa will be in big trouble if there are no more trees. Its numbers have declined and there are now concerns that it may become extinct. Additionally, people sometimes kill the Fossa because they see it as a pest that attacks livestock. It probably does so because its food is disappearing along with the forests. If there are more trees, it is likely that far fewer Fossas would attack livestock.
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