Fossa is a large predatory animal that belongs to the Madagascar wyverre family. On the island of Madagascar, this beast is the largest and most dangerous predator. Aborigines are sure that the Vosses are able to kill a person, in addition, animals ruin the household plots.
Locals exterminate predators and even eat their meat. So, despite the fact that the foss does not have natural enemies due to its large size, its number is greatly affected by the brutal interference of humans.
Fossa (animal): description
The appearance of the fossa is quite unusual, it is a rare animal. If we compare it with other predators, then it resembles a small puma, in which the features of the wyverra are visible.
This strong beast is called the Madagascar lion in the homeland, mainly due to the fact that its ancestors were much larger than their contemporaries. The animal fossa, which currently lives on the whole famous island, reaches a length of 65-75 cm, not counting the tail (55-65 cm). The body is muscular, massive. The long limbs are equally strong and massive, while the front legs are noticeably shorter than the hind legs.
A distinctive feature of the Madagascar predator is the special glands that are in the anus. It is they who secrete an unusual substance, which can not be confused with anything. The substance exudes such a disgusting “aroma” that with its help the beast is able to defeat the victim on the spot. So, at least, local residents say.
Voss hair (animal) is short, but very thick. The color of the scalp is red, the body is covered with dark red with a brown tint.
Fossa - a large predatory animal in Madagascar
There is probably no person who does not know the popular cartoon "Madagascar." In this fascinating story, the lemurs living on the island were horrified to loss of consciousness at the mere mention of a terrible beast called fossa. This is not a fictional creature, as you now know, Fossa is an animal that actually lives on the island of Madagascar.
A predator, which is quite large, of course, can scare not only defenseless lemurs, but also people. In the natural environment, you can see such a formidable beast only in Madagascar. This beautiful corner of the earth surprises us with both flora and fauna.
Lifestyle
Fossa is a terrestrial animal, but when you observe his skillful and confident movements along tree branches and trunks, you are convinced that the height also obeys the Madagascar predator. Its strong paws with sharp claws and large pads help climb the trees perfectly. It balances at a height with the help of a flexible body and a long tail.
Fossa leads a solitary life, but during the mating season, the animal has to look for a companion, albeit for a very short time, and rivals also appear with it. During the day, during the heat, the fossa prefers to lie down in its lair, and at dusk and at night the time comes for hunting.
The voice of the predator, especially when the animal is agitated and alarmed, resembles the growling of an angry big cat. Zoologists, observing these amazing creatures in the wild, argue that on average fossa can live 16-20 years.
Diet
If we consider the “dish” in the Fossa menu, which comes first, then these are the well-known shy Madagascar lemurs. If a predator manages to catch a prey for him, he tightly clamps the lemur with its front paws and at the same time tears the neck of the victim with its fangs. The poor thing has no chance of escaping. So it is not in vain that the animals are so afraid of meeting a natural enemy.
In addition to lemurs, the fossa diet includes reptiles, small mammals, birds, and even insects. Although the hunter from the Madagascar lion is skilled, he rarely has to kill insects.
Breeding
The mating season of the fossa begins in early autumn. 3 or 4 males take care of the female at once. On such days, it is better not to disturb the animals and, of course, not to anger. Predators during mating games have almost no control over their behavior, and their aggressiveness goes off scale.
Offspring
Pregnancy lasts about 3 months. Cubs are born in the winter (December, January). In one brood, there are from 2 to 4 babies. Newborns weigh about 100 grams, they are blind and completely helpless. Instead of a "fur coat", as in adult predators, the calves are covered with a sparse and small fluff.
Two weeks later, the fossa offspring opens its eyes and begins to see the world around it. At the age of 1-1.5 months, babies make inept attempts to get out of the den, and after two months of age they calmly climb trees. For four months, the cubs feed on their mother’s milk, but gradually the predator feeds them with meat.
Fosses become fully grown at the age of 4 years, but they have to leave their native hole in a year and a half. Young predators continue to explore the wisdom of life in the wild on their own.
