The Fossa
Meet the Fossa, the top dog...or rather top predator of Madagascar! This unique creature looks like a mix between a cat, a dog, and a mongoose. Roughly the size of a small cougar, a typical fossa has a slim, muscular body, reddish-brown fur, large eyes, and sharp teeth. It's famous for its long, squirrel-like tail that helps it balance as it swings circle to circle in trees, hunting for food or simply playing around.
| Fossa | |
|---|---|
| Size | Up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) |
| Weight | Up to 26 pounds (12 kilograms) |
| Speed | Speed: 20 mph (32.19 km/hr) |
| Key Strength | Powerful jaws and sharp claws |
| Biggest Weakness | Short legs and relatively small size |
| Scientific Name | Cryptoprocta ferox |
| Family | Eupleridae |
| Habitat | Forests |
| Geography | Madagascar |
| Diet | Carnivorous, primarily lemurs |
| Lifespan | 15 years - 20 years |
The Fossa
Meet the Fossa, the top dog...or rather top predator of Madagascar! This unique creature looks like a mix between a cat, a dog, and a mongoose. Roughly the size of a small cougar, a typical fossa has a slim, muscular body, reddish-brown fur, large eyes, and sharp teeth. It's famous for its long, squirrel-like tail that helps it balance as it swings circle to circle in trees, hunting for food or simply playing around.
Fun Fact: The fossa's ankles can rotate 180 degrees, very handy for speedy head-first descents from trees – it's kind of like having built-in climbing shoes!
| Fossa | |
|---|---|
| Size | Up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) |
| Weight | Up to 26 pounds (12 kilograms) |
| Speed | Speed: 20 mph (32.19 km/hr) |
| Key Strength | Powerful jaws and sharp claws |
| Biggest Weakness | Short legs and relatively small size |
| Scientific Name | Cryptoprocta ferox |
| Family | Eupleridae |
| Habitat | Forests |
| Geography | Madagascar |
| Diet | Carnivorous, primarily lemurs |
| Lifespan | 15 years - 20 years |
Fossa Matchups
We use AI to simulate matchups between the Fossa and other animals. Our simulation considers size, strength, and natural predatory behaviors to determine the most likely outcome.
Fun Fact: Despite its cat-like appearance and dog-like size, the fossa is actually most closely related to the mongoose family.
Fun Fact: Fossas use a variety of sounds to communicate, including purrs, hisses and even a unique bark, though they aren't remotely related to your pet dog or cat!