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IUCN Red List status:

Vulnerable

For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org

Animal vulnerability index Animal vulnerability index
Did you know?

Diet

Fossa are CARNIVORES and especially adapted to hunt lemurs, but will eat any small to medium animals

Habitat

Fossa are only found on the island of Madagascar, and live in remote, forested areas

Fun Fact

This carnivore might look like a cat, but it’s actually more closely related to a mongoose!

Fun Fact

Fossa are Madagascar's top predator

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

Fossas can climb and jump exceptionally well. They have strong legs, an agile body and excellent balance.

They’re cathemeral, so they can be active any time during the day or night. The fossa has big eyes which let in more light, helping them to see better when hunting in the trees at night.

30
The fossa’s tail can be up to 30 inches in length!
0%
About 90 percent of the fossa’s native habitat has been destroyed by deforestation.
2,500
There's estimated to be as few as 2,500 fossa left in the wild.
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