Fosa

In the Zoo

Madagascar Center

Fascinating Facts

Fosas look like members of the cat family, but are more closely related to mongooses. They are the largest carnivore on the island of Madagascar and lemurs are their preferred prey.

Physical Characteristics

Fosas have a short reddish-brown coat and long whiskers. They are 24 – 31 inches in length, with a tail approximately equally as long. They weigh between 15 – 26 lbs., with males being slightly larger than females.

They are well adapted for spending time in the trees: a good sense of vision, hearing and smell; a long tail for balance and semi-retractable claws to aid in climbing. In the wild they can live up to 15 years and up to 20 years under human care.

Diet

They feed on small mammals, including lemurs, as well as reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects.

Habitat

Fosas live exclusively in forested areas.

Range

They are found in the forested lowlands on the island of Madagascar

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5760/45197189 

Social Behavior

Fosas are mainly solitary, except during breeding season. Males will compete for breeding rights, and will mate either on the ground or in a sturdy tree branch. Frequently the same mating sites are used year after year, possibly to help fosas find each other in the dense forest habitat. Mating can take up to 3 hours and females sometimes mate with multiple males.

After a 3-month gestation period, 2- 4 young are born. Cubs are helpless at birth and will remain in the den for 4 months. They will become independent between 15 – 20 months and sexually mature at 3 years of age. Fosas communicate through vocalizations and scent marking, and will mark their territory with scent glands.

Status In The Wild

IUCN – Vulnerable

Other

Fosas are threatened by habitat loss, as well as habitat fragmentation due to their low population densities. They are also threatened by the bushmeat trade.