Fossa

## About

A fossa on a tree at night.

The fossa *(pronounced FOO-SAH)* ***(Cryptoprocta ferox)*** is a rainforest dwelling cat-like mammal in the eupleridae family. Despite resembling a cat it is not at all closely related. In fact Fossa are in the same family as genets, civets and binturongs ***(Arctictis binturong)***. Fossa have light brown short fur and long slender but muscular bodies, a characteristic of Euplerids. Fossa possess long tail which allows them to stay balanced while moving through trees. Fossa have bright orange eyes with small slit pupils. Fossa appear so closely to cats especially cougars, that many European colonisers that first witnessed the animal thought they were cats. Most likely fossas evolved to do the same role/niche as cats, and with no other predators of their size on Madagascar they became the dominant predator on the island using the same methods cats use in other places. This is known as convergent evolution. Fossas can grow 162cm (64in) includin their tail and can also weigh 9.5kg (20.9lbs).

## Diet

Fossa are the largest carnivores present in modern day Madagascar, and eat many varieties of mammals but mainly lemurs. Lemurs, being extremely reliant on trees to live in, fossa have evolved to predate lemurs perfectly, even having flexible wrists to make tree climbing easier.

## Conservation Status

Fossa are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and are heavily effected by deforestation to the point of almost being endangered. Unfortunately almost every animal on Madagascar is threatened by deforestation, as much of the island is forested and in an environment of tall canopies and thick brush, the animals have become adapted to live there. Without these environments animals like the fossa could become extinct.

## Range and Population

    Fossa live mainly in the treetops of Madagascar being adapted for an arboreal meaning they mainly live in trees. fossas have also been known to inhabit dry brush and scrublands. fossas are so adapted to an arboreal lifestyle that they have specialised wrist bones which allow them to grip trees more efficiently than other animals, fossas mainly live in trees in order to hunt lemurs more efficiently. The Fossa has a small population of 2,635-8,262 mature individuals or less in the wild because of habitat loss and deforestation, and it is still on the decline.

## Behaviour

Fossa are shy animals that do not interact with humans or even other fossas often. Fossa are active at both day and night, fossa often do not reuse sleeping sites and instead move to a new one each time they need rest, however females caring for young will use the same den nightly. Excusing females with young, Fossa are usually solitary and hunt alone. In 2009 there was a publication that claimed to see three male Fossa working cooperatively to hunt a Verreaux's sifaka **(*Propithecus verreauxi*)**. After successfully killing the sifaka the Fossa shared the meal. However this is just one account and not a usual behaviour exhibited by fossas.

### Relationship with Humans

Fossa are very shy towards humans and wild individuals do not appreciate human presence. For decades fossas were hunted by both European settlers and the native Malagasy people in fear that fossa would eat the livestock they farm. Fossa are not outright aggressive to humans however, and would rather hide than fight.

## In Captivity

    Fossa can mostly be found in North American zoos such as; Denver Zoo, Central Florida Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Zoo Atlanta and San Diego Zoo. Internationally fossas are less common but zoos such as Singapore Zoo do house fossas. Fossa were first bred in captivity in 1974, Montipellier Zoo, France.

## Sources

* Fossa | National Geographic - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/fossa
* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5760/45197189
* Fossa Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossa\_(animal)