Fossa (animal): description, photo, lifestyle in the wild

Fossa is a large predatory animal that belongs to the family of Madagascar wyvers. On the island of Madagascar, this beast is the largest and dangerous predator. Aborigines are sure that fosses are capable of killing a person, except for this, animals are ruining ancillary farms. Local residents exterminate predators and even eat their meat. So, despite the fact that Foss has no natural enemies because of its large size, its strength is heavily influenced by cruel human interference.

Fossa (animal): description

Appearance of the fossa is rather unusual, it is a rare animal. If we compare it with other predators, it resembles a small puma, which has the features of a wyverra.

This strong beast in the homeland is called the Madagascar lion, mostly due to the fact that its ancestors were much larger than contemporaries. The animal Fossa, which currently lives on the entire known island, reaches a length of 65-75 cm, not counting the tail (55-65 cm) The body is muscular, massive. Long limbs are as strong and massive, with the front legs noticeably shorter than the rear legs.

A distinctive feature of the Madagascar predator is the special glands that are in the anus. It is they who give off an unusual substance, to confuse the smell of which is impossible with nothing. The substance exudes such a disgusting "fragrance" that with its help the beast is able to strike the victim on the spot. So, at least, local residents say. Fossa wool (animal) has a short, but very thick. The hair color of the head is reddish, the body is covered with a dark red with a brown tinge of hair.

Fossa is a large predatory animal of Madagascar

Probably, there is no person who does not know the popular cartoon "Madagascar". In this fascinating history, the lemurs living on the island were horrified to the point of losing consciousness only with a single mention of a fearsome beast called Fossa. This is not a fictional being, as you now know, Fossa is an animal that really lives on the island of Madagascar.

Predator, which is quite large, of course, can scare not only defenseless lemurs, but also people. In a natural environment, you can see such a formidable beast only in the territory of Madagascar. This beautiful corner of the earth surprises us with both the flora and its fauna.

Lifestyle

Fossa is a terrestrial animal, but when you observe his skillful and confident movements along the branches and trunks of trees, you are convinced that the altitude is also submissive to the Madagascar predator. It is great to climb on the trees with the help of its strong legs with sharp claws and large pads. He balances at the height with a flexible body and a long tail.

Fossa leads a solitary way of life, but in the mating season the animal has to look for a companion, albeit for a very short time, and with it rivals appear. In the daytime during the heat Fossa prefers to lie in its lair, and at dusk and at night time comes for hunting.

The voice of the predator, especially when the animal is excited and alarmed, resembles the growl of an angry big cat. Zoologists, watching these amazing creatures in the wild, claim that on average Fossa can live 16-20 years.

Ration

If you consider the menu fossa "dish", which is in the first place, then this is all the well-known timid Madagascar lemurs. If the predator manages to catch a prey for him prey, he clamps the lemur tightly with his front paws and at the same time tusks tear the victim's neck. There are no chances to break out from the poor girl. So it's not for nothing that animals are so afraid of meeting a natural enemy.

In addition to lemurs, the diet of fossa includes reptiles, small mammals, birds and even insects. Although the hunter from the Madagascar lion is skillful, and it is extremely rare to interrupt insects.

Reproduction

The matrimonial period at Fossa begins in the beginning of autumn. The female is cared for by 3 or 4 males at once. On such days it is better not to disturb animals and, of course, not to anger. Predators during mating games almost do not control their behavior, and their aggressiveness goes off scale.

Cultivation of offspring

Pregnancy lasts about 3 months. Cubs are born in winter (December, January). In one brood there are from 2 to 4 kids. The newborn babies weigh about 100 grams, they are blind and completely helpless. Instead of "fur coat", as in adult predators, young calves are covered with a thin and small fluff. In two weeks, the offspring of Fossa opens his eyes and begins to see the world around him. At the age of 1-1.5 months, babies make unskilled attempts to get out of the lair, and after two months of age quietly climb the trees. For four months the cubs feed on mother's milk, but gradually the predator feeds them with meat food.

Full-grown fosses become at the age of 4, but they have to leave their native hole in a year and a half. Young predators independently continue to study the wisdom of living in the wild.

Fossa is an endangered species

There was a period very dangerous for these animals, when according to the calculations of the researchers there were only about 2500 individuals. At this time on the pages of the Red Book, Madagascar predators were labeled as endangered. Only in 2008, the animals were returned to the status of "vulnerable species".