It has semi-retractable claws (meaning it can extend but not retract its claws fully) and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and down trees head-first, and also support jumping from tree to tree. The fossa is unique within its family for the shape of its genitalia, which share traits with those of cats and hyenas.”
they are one of the few carnivores on the planet that specialize in hunting primates (eating mostly lemurs). They’re decent sized, like a very large house cat
anyway, if a weasel decided it was going to be a cat from now on, this is p much what you’d get
you mean they didn’t just make those fuckers up for the madigascar movie
You forgot to mention this their scientific name is Cryptoprocta ferox with cryptoprocta literally meaning “hidden anus”. Because these guys hide their anus in a pouch
“Very large housecat” is bit of a misrepresentation of these awesome predators, so let’s talk a little bit about their size.
Average weight ranges for foosa vary, but it’s generally thought to be between 15-26 pounds with the males being larger than the females (for cat-size context, American bred male Maine Coons tend to be around 18-19 pounds at full adult weight). Adult fossa are generally about 2-3 feet long, not counting about another two feet or so of tail, and super muscular.
This is LeeZoe, a female at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, next to the 9x13″ cake pan containing her birthday feast.
(Photo Credit: J. Beierman)
Here’s her again in a barrel, for a different sense of perspective. Remember that as a female, she’s a good deal smaller than most of the males of her species.
(Photo Credit: K. Wilbanks)
The males, who are big even when they’re not giant, can sometimes reach incredible sizes. The next couple photos are of Isa, a 12 year old male and ambassador animal at the San Diego Safari Park, who weighs in at something like 34 pounds.
(Photo Credit: Nicki Boyd)
I just love this second photo - he’s getting a chance to watch a tamandua while on a trip around the facility. While he’d never have encountered a South American anteater in the wild, fossa frequently catch and eat animals close to their own body size, so Isa’s interest here could be more than just curiosity.
(Photo Credit: Nicki Boyd)
As the OP noted, these guys are incredible climbers. Here’s a photo from a demo done at the San Diego Safari Park to showcase their skill, which gives you a sense of how incredibly buff these guys are.
(Photo Credit: Nicki Boyd)
Fossa are amazing, and the OP did a great job of conveying that - I wanted to give you a bit of a sense of how big this species is, even if the females sometimes only weigh about as much as a large domestic cat.
The other thing I wish I could educate you more about - but would probably be censored by tumblr for - is their genitalia. The OP’s comment about having traits similar to cats and hyenas doesn’t quite encapsulate the sheer level of nightmare fuel going on there. I have two words for you: “clitoral spines.” If you want to learn more about that whole thing, click through here to an article about fossa reproductive anatomy.
