Fossa
The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is the largest carnivorous mammal of Madagascar, a lithe, cat-like predator that hunts lemurs in the trees. It is not a cat but a relative of mongooses.
The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is the largest carnivorous mammal of Madagascar, a lithe, cat-like predator that hunts lemurs in the trees. It is not a cat but a relative of mongooses.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Fossa in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Evolutionary lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
A Cat in Disguise
The fossa belongs to the Eupleridae, a family of Malagasy carnivores descended from a single ancestor that arrived on the island about 20 to 30 million years ago. Its cat-like form, with semi-retractable claws and a long tail, evolved by convergence.
Lemur Hunter
Flexible ankles let the fossa climb head first down trees, chasing lemurs through the canopy. It also eats birds, lizards and small mammals.
Forest Dependent
Loss of Madagascar's forests and persecution for killing chickens threaten the fossa. See Ring-tailed Lemur.
Fossa at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Cryptoprocta ferox |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Suborder | Feliformia |
| Family | Eupleridae |
| Field Guide group | Evolutionary Oddities (Unique & Disputed Lineages) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Madagascar's largest mammalian predator, built with semi-retractile claws, flexible ankle joints for descending tree trunks headfirst, and a long balancing tail nearly half its total length. |
| IUCN Red List status | Vulnerable (VU), assessed 2016 |
| Family | Eupleridae |
| Main prey | Lemurs |
See Also
- Ring-tailed Lemur — its prey
- Cheetah — a true cat