Animals / fossa-madagascar-predator
Facts about Fossa: Madagascar Predator
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Classified within the family Eupleridae, fossas belong to a group of carnivores that arrived in Madagascar from Africa tens of millions of years ago.
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Unlike most carnivorans, fossas exhibit transient masculinization in females, with juveniles temporarily developing male-like genitalia before adulthood.
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A fossa's elongated body and tail, which can reach nearly the same length as its body, aid balance during arboreal pursuits.
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Fossas are capable climbers that use their semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles to descend trees headfirst while hunting lemurs.
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The fossa is the largest carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar, closely related to mongooses despite its cat-like appearance.