Saturday, March 12, 2016

Fossa

Fossa

Fossas are the largest carnivores in Madagascar. Secretive and cat-like, these predators are well equipped for chasing down lemurs in the forest. They are famed for having some strange development, courtship and breeding traits. As they grow, female fossas go through a period of 'masculinisation' during which their genitals resemble those of a male. Breeding takes place in the autumn when a female attracts a large number of males. A week later, she leaves and another female takes her place to mate with the assembled males.

 Close-up of a fossa
Scientific name: Cryptoprocta ferox
Rank: Species

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