Fossa

Cryptoprocta ferox

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Mammalia · Carnivora · Eupleridae

About

The fossa is a slender, long-tailed, cat-like mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the carnivoran family Eupleridae.

Fun Fact

Fossas are Madagascar's largest predator, and despite looking cat-like, they're actually most closely related to mongooses — an example of convergent evolution on the isolated island.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Tropical forests

Diet

Carnivore

Lifespan

15-20 years

Threats

Deforestation
Habitat Fragmentation
Illegal Wildlife Trade

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

More Mammals Species

Abbott's Duiker EN Abbott's Gibbon EN Addax CR African Elephant EN African Forest Elephant CR African Wild Ass CR

Browse all Mammals →