The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox; / ˈfɒsə / FOSS-ə or / ˈfuːsə / FOO-sə; [3] Malagasy: [ˈfusə̥]) is a slender, long-tailed, cat-like mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the carnivoran family Eupleridae.

The Fossa (pronounced ‘foosa’ or ‘foosh’) is a rare and elusive cat-like carnivorous mammal native to the island of Madagascar, off the East coast of Africa. It belongs to a family of carnivorans that are closely related to the mongoose family.

It is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island, and preys mainly on lemurs, pursuing them through the trees with remarkable speed and agility. The fossa is renowned for its appearance, its strength, and its peculiar mating rituals. It is declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

The fossa is an intelligent, agile animal that moves with ease high up in the trees of its forest home, even though the animal can weigh up to 22 pounds (10 kilograms). That extra-long tail helps the fossa balance and jump from branch to branch.

The fossa is a predatory mammal native to the island of Madagascar. They slightly resemble cats, but are actually more closely related to mongoose. These medium-sized animals are the largest predators on the island. Read on to learn about the fossa.

Mar 7, 2025 · fossa, (Cryptoprocta ferox), largest carnivore native to Madagascar, a catlike forest dweller of the civet family, Viverridae. The fossa grows to a length of about 1.5 metres (5 feet), including a tail about 66 centimetres (26 inches) long, …

Nov 23, 2017 · The fossa is an agile, dexterous animal, equally at ease high in the trees as it is on the ground. Equipped with a long tail, semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles, it is an expert climber. It can leap from tree to tree and even descend head first down a tree trunk.

May 27, 2024 · The largest carnivorous mammal on Madagascar, the fossa survives by eating other animals in the surrounding area and has evolved to be the perfect hunter of Lemurs, a favorite staple of their diet. More than half of the Fossa’s nourishment is comprised of them.

With sharp claws for gripping and a long tail for balance, the fossa an amazingly agile animal. It quickly leaps from branch to branch and tree to tree. It can even crawl along the underside of a branch!

Learn more about the fossa at the Animal Facts. Here you can learn about their appearance, habitat, diet, lifespan, behaviour, breeding, status and facts.