Essay On Fossas

Fossas are the largest carnivores in Madagascar.

They are native only to the island nation of Madagascar.

Secretive and cat-like, these predators are well equipped for chasing down lemurs in the forest.

Little is known about fossas, mostly because there aren’t many of them, and they live in remote, forested areas.

Average life span in the wild is 15 years and up to 20 years in zoos. Its coat is reddish brown and its muzzle resembles that of a dog.

They are from 70 to 80 centimeters (27 to 31 inches) long + tail length which is from 65 to 70 centimeters (26 to 31 inches).

Females weight from 5.5 to 7 kilograms (12 to 15 pounds) and males from 6 to 8.5 kilograms (13 to 19 pounds)

The fossa is an intelligent, agile animal that moves with ease high up

The mother makes a den in a place like an old termite mound, a rock crevice, underground den, or the hollow of a tree.

After a gestation period that lasts for around 3 months, the female Fossa gives birth to 2 - 6 cubs that are very underdeveloped at birth and do not open their eyes until they are between 2 and 3 weeks old.

Fossa pups make a purring sound when nursing or near their mother.They also make a high-pitched noise called mewling to get the mother 's attention.

The pups develop slowly and don 't leave the den for about 4 to 5 months; they are dependent on their mother for another 8 months.

Young Fossas take almost two years to grow to their adult size.

The fossa is closely related to the mongoose.

Their cat-like body makes people very surprised to learn that it is actually related to the mongoose and civets but not the cat.

Until recently, scientists had mistaken the cat-like fossa for a primitive kind of cat.

Unlike its mongoose relative, this species has many features that make it seem like a cat such as retractable claws and catlike sharp teeth.

Locals pronounce the name “foo-sa” and