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The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar, as it has convergently evolved many cat-like features. Adults have a head-body length of 70–80 cm (28–31 in) and weigh between 5.5 and 8.6 kg (12 and 19 lb), with the males larger than the females.
The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is a smaller relative of C. spelea that still survives.. Although some morphological differences between the two fossa species have been described, [17] these may be allometric (growth-related), and in their 1986 Mammalian Species account of the fossa, Michael Köhncke and Klaus Leonhardt wrote that the two were morphologically identical. [18]
This is a list of the native wild mammal species recorded in Madagascar.As of June 2014 (following the IUCN reassessment of the lemurs) there are 241 extant mammal species recognized in Madagascar, of which 22 are critically endangered, 62 are endangered, 32 are vulnerable, 9 are near threatened, 72 are of least concern and 44 are either data deficient or not evaluated.
Madagascar's varied fauna and flora are endangered by human activity. [24] Since the arrival of humans around 2,350 years ago, Madagascar has lost more than 90 percent of its original forest. [25] This forest loss is largely fueled by tavy ("fat"), a traditional slash-and-burn agricultural practice imported to Madagascar by the earliest ...
The history of the fauna of Madagascar in the context of plate tectonics and paleoclimate over the last 200 million years (Aepyornithidae arrived later than is indicated). A good example of Malagasy convergent evolution is the fossa, a Malagasy carnivore that has evolved in appearance and behaviour to be so like a large cat that it was originally classified in Felidae, when it is in fact more ...
The primary predators of the Madagascar giant hognose snake are birds of prey and other avian species with a taste for snakes. [2] Additionally, some mongooses and even the fossa, Madagascar's largest mammalian carnivore, may consume snakes; though the fossa is rather opportunistic in its diet, its specialty is hunting lemurs.
F. oustaleti is the only chameleon of Madagascar to occur in both the most arid regions and the wettest regions (F. lateralis formerly was considered equally widespread but has been split into several species), [2] [13] and a degree of geographic variation in colour and size has been observed, [10] leading some to question whether F. oustaleti ...
Majungasaurus was the largest predator in its environment, while the only known large herbivores at the time were sauropods like Rapetosaurus. Scientists have suggested that Majungasaurus, and perhaps other abelisaurids, specialized on hunting sauropods. Adaptations to strengthen the head and neck for a bite-and-hold type of attack might have ...