Fossa or Madagascan chive
ORIGINS
The fossa car its Latin name of a physical characteristic. Indeed, it has a strongly marked glandular ring surrounding the anus which enables him to delimit its territory. (crypto of the Greek krűptos which wants to say « hidden » and prôktos wants to say « anus »).
The fossa called also "cryptoprocte" or "Madagascan chive", is the largest endemic carnivore of Madagascar.
It one is viverridae but its aspect of felid armature still today the zoologists in error. American definitively placed it in the category of the felines..
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The fossa resembles a large cat curiously. Its tail is as long as its body and the color brown-red of its peeling has similarities with that of the cougar.
Endowed with a great muscular force, he manages to escape from the traps without much difficulty. It is besides a very discrete animal to meet.
The fossa just like the ">wolverine is plantigrade, i.e. it is pressed on the plant of the feet to go.
Unlike the others viverridae which have 36 teeth typically, the fossa has only 32 of them to him. It also has 5 retractile claws on each leg. The female has a double uterus.
The fossa male measurement of 75 cm to 80 cm for a weight of 6 kg to 10 kg. The female is on the other hand a little smaller with a size going from 65 cm to 70 cm for a weight of 11 kg to 15 kg.
The tail of the fossa measurement up to 90 cm that it uses it as trapezoid.
DISTRIBUTION
As for some other species one finds the fossa only on the Madagascar island.
=> Gallery of Cryptoprocta ferox <=
