Fossa

Its common name comes from the word fosa (Sorabe: فُسَ; Malagasy pronunciation: [ˈfusə̥]) in Malagasy, an Austronesian language, and some authors have adopted the Malagasy spelling in English. The word is similar to posa (meaning "cat") in the Iban language (another Austronesian language) from Borneo, and both terms may derive from trade languages from the 1600s.

However, an alternative etymology suggests a link to another word that comes from Malay: pusa refers to the Malayan weasel (Mustela nudipes), or in Tagalog: pusa for any kind of cat. The Malay word pusa could have become posa for cats in Borneo and the Philippines.

• Singular: fossa

• Plural: fossas

The genus name Cryptoprocta is derived from the Greek kryptos ("hidden") and prokta ("anus"), referring to its hidden anal pouch. The species name ferox is Latin for "fierce" or "wild."

The fossa is strong and thin, with a lighter underside and reddish-brown to dark brown fur. It has wide rounded ears, a short muzzle, a small head, and forward-facing eyes that allow for binocular vision. It is unique among predators in that it can descend trees headfirst thanks to its very flexible ankle joints and semi-retractable claws. For leaping into the forest canopy, its long, bushy tail—which is frequently almost the same length as its body—serves as an essential counterweight. The fossa weighs between 5 and 10 kg, with males being larger than females. Their body length is approximately 70 to 80 cm, with a tail that is nearly as long.

The fossa is a member of the Eupleridae family, a species of carnivores that are unique to Madagascar. Malagasy civets, falanouc, fanaloka, and Malagasy mongooses are among their closest relatives. Even though it looks like a cat, DNA research reveals that its ancestors were connected to mongooses who rafted from mainland Africa to Madagascar millions of years ago.

The fossa was an exceptional tree climber with flexible ankles that could spin nearly 180 degrees and jump like a monkey from branch to branch. Because of its long tail, this species had exceptional balance and was a very quick runner. Although they are not aquatic animals, fossas are capable of swimming and may traverse rivers and streams when needed.

Because they are apex carnivores, adult fossas have few natural predators. Potential threats include huge crocodiles near rivers, packs of wild dogs, and possibly other fossas during territorial conflict. Young cubs are more susceptible to raptors, snakes, crocodiles, and feral dogs. As the largest endemic predator on Madagascar, this dietary flexibility combined with a flexible activity pattern has allowed it to exploit a wide variety of niches available throughout the island, making it a potential keystone species for the Madagascar ecosystems.

Reproduction

The fossa is solitary for the majority of the year; however, pairs have often been photographed near the breeding season (October–December). There is a record of what appeared to be an adult traveling with a juvenile in May and another of a very small Fosa (possibly an infant or very early juvenile) in September. Females go through a temporary period of "masculinization" during adolescence, which is thought to protect them from unwanted male attention until they are ready to breed.

• Breeding season: usually September–October.

• Females attract males by scent and vocalizations.

• Several males may compete for one female.

• Pregnancy lasts around 3 months.

• Litters usually contain 2–4 cubs.

• Cubs stay with the mother for over a year before becoming independent.

Fossas are the largest carnivores on the island of Madagascar, where they feed on a variety of mammals, including lemurs and bush pigs. They typically hunt and live alone. Like most species on Madagascar, fossas are threatened by habitat loss. It is generally feared by the Malagasy people and is often protected by their fady taboo. Both in the wild and in captivity, fossas are usually not aggressive and sometimes even allow themselves to be stroked by a zookeeper or others, but adult males in particular may try to bite.

Likes

• Dense forests

• Climbing

• Hunting lemurs

• Secluded resting spots

• Elevated branches

• Warm tropical environments

Dislikes

• Habitat destruction

• Noisy disturbances

• Territorial intruders

• Open exposed landscapes

The fossa is Endangered, with only about 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild. Key threats include habitat loss (deforestation), fragmentation, and hunting by humans.  

Threats

• Deforestation

• Slash-and-burn agriculture

• Habitat fragmentation

• Hunting

• Persecution by farmers protecting poultry

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Endangered (EN) – IUCN Red List 

Conservation Efforts

• Habitat protection.

• Anti-poaching enforcement.

• Rescue and rehabilitation centers.

• Awareness campaigns against illegal pet trade.

The fossa is the most widely distributed of the Malagasy carnivores, found throughout western and eastern forests, although it is very scarce in most areas; it is also present, although rare, in forests on the central plateau and in spiny southern forests. It has been recorded from sea level up to altitudes above 2,500 m asl (2,600 m asl on the Andringitra Massif), but is rare above 1,500 m. It occurs above the tree line in mountainous areas.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Nomadic

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: 

  • Earth: 2635-8626

  • Berbania: 400–1300

  • Reinachos: 6000–10000

  • Sawintir: 50–3500

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Graveyard Vale; Mountain.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): Madagascar

• Berbania: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): TBA

• Reinachos: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): TBA

• Thatrollwa: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): TBA

The fossa isn't already tame, you can tame fossa with eggs, meat, or berries.

However, owning a fossa is prohibited by conservation rules in Madagascar and the majority of other nations. Their wild, territorial, and erratic temperament, as well as their need for a large territory and a diet heavy in fresh meat, made them extremely unsuitable as pets. The captive fossas in zoos require spacious habitats and enrichment to avoid boredom or aggression because the fossa can become aggressive when under stress.

Bereshit (75,000 BCE)

After creating humans and changing all animal species, the Isu implanted artificial neurotransmitters in all animals' brains. This method kills all purebred and natural animal species, even those that appear natural and unmanufactured. The Apples of Eden have mental dominion over all species, including humans, because they can control the brain via their interactions with neurotransmitters.

• Coming soon

See also: none

• Coming soon

Earth

• Brezhoneg: Fusa

• Czech: Fosa (Фоса)

• Dansk: Fossa

• Deutsch: Fossa

• Ελληνικά: Φόσα

• English: Fossa

• Esperanto: Foso

• Español: Fosa

• Français: Fossa

• Gaeilge: Fosa

• Hebrew: פוסה

• Magyar: Fossza

• Italiano: Fossa

• Nihon: フォッサ

• Korean: 포사

• Lietuvių: Fosa (Фоса)

• Malagasy: Fosa (فُسَ)

• Nederlands: Fretkat

• Norsk Nynorsk: Fossa

• Norsk: Fossa

• Polski: Fossa madagaskarska

• Português: Fossa

• Russian: Фосса

• Suomi: Fossa

• Svenska: Fossa

• Tagalog: Fosa

• Türkçe: Fossa

• 粵語: 馬島狸

• 中文: 馬島長尾狸貓

• Western Elvish: Fortan

• Eastern Elvish: Portdana

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossa_(animal)

• https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183330

• https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cryptoprocta_ferox

• https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cryptoprocta_ferox/

• https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/ZZ3R

• https://eol.org/pages/347438

• http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=232151

• https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=621973

• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41578

• https://www.gbif.org/species/2433516

• https://www.irmng.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=11188015

• https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?s=y&id=14000446

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=94188

• https://speciesplus.net/#/taxon_concepts/9088

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5760/45197189

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/fossa

• https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/fossa

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Fossa-995388003