We are going to tell you about an animal that is very different from the animals we introduced before. It’s different because it’s a period what type does it belong to caused controversy.

Actually, we can’t really call it a cat because it’s itself. feline gender A 1993 study suggested that fossas were related to mongooses, but as a result of later studies, it became clear that they were felines.

Fossa, Madagascar’s largest carnivorous mammal; It has a feline body, claws and teeth.

It also has a long tail like a monkey and a round face like a marten with small ears. Therefore, as we mentioned above: like many animals. The fur of the fossae, which has a short but bristly coat texture, is brown.

One of the most striking features of this animal is that it has a tail that is as long as its length. Their height is 60 to 80 cm between fossae their tails are also 50 to 70 cm varies between Their weight is between 5.5 kg and 8.5 kg.

The meaning of the scientific name is a bit strange.

Scientific name of fossa Cryptoprocta ferox. If we translate it bit by bit into Turkish, an interesting and strange meaning emerges. Crypto means “hidden” and procta means “anus”. When these two are combined hidden anus a meaning arises. Ferox means “wild, fearless, cruel”.

The fossa is called Cryptoprocta because the anus is hidden by the anal sac. The reason it is called Ferox is because it is quite wild. because he himself Madagascar’s Largest Predator is accepted as

Fossa has the ability to hunt day and night in any environment regardless of tree or ground.

It usually feeds on fish, lizards, birds, frogs and insects. So a complete carnivore and usually likes to feed on lemurs. Preferring to live in pristine forests, the fossae can live in all known forests of Madagascar. However, the vast majority live in the dense rainforests of the island.

Usually, fossae choose to be alone and not stay long where they rest or sleep. About they can only travel in an area of ​​four square kilometers. However, mother fossae live with their offspring until the young are one year old.

In the fossa, which often makes noise during mating, the wires are in the hands of the female when it comes to mating.

A female stands at the top of the tree and picks the winner or whatever she chooses from the males fighting under the tree to mate. There may even be a situation where the female can choose multiple candidates to mate over the next few weeks if desired. from fossa They are known to take several hours to mate.. The reason for this is the backward-facing spines on the genitals of the male fossa.

The female fossa can give birth to an average of six cubs. Babies are weaned at 4.5 months and begin to live independently after a year. A The average lifespan of the fossa is 20 years..

So how do they communicate?

Fossas communicate by marking the area with the substance they secrete from the glands in their chest and tail. A fossa that is frightened or disturbed gives off a rather pungent odor. At the same time The female fossa meows or purrs to impress the male fossa. Men cry when they fight.

Their lineage is highly endangered as their habitats have been heavily destroyed in recent years. In the world It is estimated that there are about 2,500 fossae left..

• Sources: NationalGeographic, ZooAtlanta, Ungo