#fossa fossana

[snototter]

A fanaloka, or Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

by Sean Crane

[striped-civet]

Striped civet by Erland Refling Nielsen 

[animalids]

Fanaloka (Fossa fossana) Also known as: Malagasy civet, striped civet, jabady

The fanaloka is the second largest carnivore on the island of Madagascar (second to the fossa). They are about the size of a cat, though their appearance and behavior is more like that of a fox. Usually two fanalokas maintain a home area of about one square mile, marking its borders with scent. They’re nocturnal and usually hunt on the ground, as they aren’t very impressive climbers. Their prey consists of small mammals, frogs, lizards, bird eggs and any other meat they can get their hands on. They’re listed as vulnerable.

Classification: Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Eutheria - Boreoeutheria - Laurasiatheria - Scrotifera - Ferae - Carnivoramorpha - Carnivora - Feliformia - Viverroidea - Viverridae - Herpestoidea - Eupleridae - Euplerinae - Fossa - F. fossana

Images: [x] [x] [x] Source: [x]

[snototter]

A Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana) in Madagascar

by Charles Sharp

[striped-civet]

Madagascar Civet by Ben Mitchell

[terranlifeform]

Fanaloka (Fossa fossana) at Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar

Chien C. Lee

[cool-critters]

Malagasy civet (Fossa Fossana)

The Malagasy or striped civet is an euplerid endemic to Madagascar. It is a small mammal: about 47 cm excluding the tail (which is only about 20 cm) and 2.5 kg. It has the appearance and movements of a small fox. It is nocturnal, though sources disagree over whether it is solitary or, unusual among euplerids, lives in pairs. It is not a good climber and frequents ravines. It eats small vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, and amphibians), insects, and eggs stolen from birds' nests. Though threatened by deforestation, hunting and competition from introduced species, the Malagasy civet is locally common.

photo credits: itsnature, biolib, link, blueanimalbio

[libutron]

Fanaloka | ©Sean Crane   (Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar)

Known as Fanaloka, Striped civet or Malagasy civet, Fossa fossana (Eupleridae) is a civet endemic to Madagascar.

It is the only member of the genus Fossa, and is about the size of a domestic cat, with a stocky body, short, thin legs and a fox-like pointed muzzle. The short, dense coat is light brown with grey around the head and on the back. There are four rows of dark spots along the flanks, which can blend to form short stripes; the thighs may also feature a few dark spots. The underparts do not tend to have markings, and are pale cream or white in color [1]. 

The Fanaloka is regarded as a Near Threatened species on the IUCN Red List, and is listed on Appendix II of CITES [2].