The physical appearance of a fossa includes a combination of a cat, dog, and mongoose. However, even though their appearance favors a cat, they are most related to the mongoose family. Due to the fossa’s 6-foot length, half of that being their tail, they are considered the largest carnivorous mammal in Madagascar.

Both genders have a short, reddish-brown coat with a cream-colored stomach and lighter tail. The Fossa’s body may be slender and muscular, but they have a long face with a short, broad muzzle.

Fossas move through the trees with ease using their long tails and flatfooted walking for balance, and their semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles allow them to scale up and down trees head-first.

The fossa can be found in the forested areas of Madagascar.

Both genders of fossa occupy large territories that they mark with scents produced by glands on their chest and base of their tails. They use these scents to communicate and keep track of each other. These territories can span a little under two miles long!

Not only do fossas hunt at all hours of the day or night, they also take prey from the ground and in the trees. They are formidable predators since fossas have amazing hearing, smell, and eyesight, and can run up to 35 miles per hour.

Their main prey is small to medium-sized animals. Fossas are considered the number one predator of lemurs, but their diet can vary depending on habitat.

Female fossas choose which males to mate with while the males compete for her attention. She’ll make a den in a concealed area like in a crevice or hollow tree, and after 90 days, the female will give birth to around one-six cubs. They are born blind and hairless and will stay with their mother until fully mature.

The fossa is the only member in their scientific family to walk on the soles of its feet similar to a bear. This method of walking is known as plantigrade.

Young female fossas undergo a unique process that makes them have temporary male-like characteristics. Scientists have hypothesized that it protects the young females from being harassed by the males as well as territorial females.