Fossa

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The island of Madagascar – a unique corner of our land. His wonderful nature and rare animals sing in movies and even in cartoons. One of these representatives of the fauna of the island is an animal called the fossa. It is believed to be the largest animal belonging to the predators that live in Madagascar. The foosa added to the family of viverrids.

This rare animal has a very unusual appearance. The fossa resembles a Puma small size, combined with the characteristics of viverra. Ancestors the fossa was much larger, so sometimes the island is an animal called the "Madagascar lion". This animal has a body length, in average, reaching 70 inches, the same length and the tail of the animal (about 65 inches). Massive body the fossa rests on a long and massive legs. The front legs along the length of the inferior rear.

The color of the fossa varied throughout the length of the body: head covered with red hair, and the back – dark, reddish-brown. Hair short, but very thick. A distinctive feature of all representatives of viverrids, including the fossa, is the presence of special glands located in the anus. These glands secrete a substance with a disgusting odor, which, according to local residents, is able to slay the victim outright.
The fossa is solitary, with the exception of the breeding season. Their way of life – earth, but in order to hunt the fossa able to climb trees. Perfectly climb trees, the fossa is possible due to its long tail and strong paws. The sounds of these mammals, very similar to the angry growl of a cat. Watching these animals, the researchers came to the conclusion that the average life expectancy Fosse from 15 to 20 years.
The most popular "treat" for FOSS is a lemur. I'm sure everyone knows about it from the famous cartoon in which the lemurs living on the island of Madagascar, fall into a horrible panic every time you hear the word "Foosa!". Caught the lemur, fossa grasps it in his strong front legs, and at this time, teeth with force enough prey over the head. An enemy of the lemurs really should be afraid! But when it is not possible to catch and "eat" their favorite food, Voss can eat any reptile, bird or mammal of small size. Sometimes the animal is interrupted and insects. Hunting time is night. In the daytime the beast sits in his lair.
In early fall the female the fossa is surrounded by three or even four males, from this moment comes the mating season. At this time the animals like losing it, they become particularly aggressive and can't control their behavior.

Because on the island of Madagascar the fossa are the largest carnivores, the natural enemies they do not exist. But this does not mean that the number of FOSS does not depend on third-party intervention. Due to the fact that local residents believe these animals are the destroyers of the economy, and even killers of man, the fossa are exposed to extermination by the people. In addition, the meat of the fossa are considered suitable for human consumption.