How big does a Fossa (animal) get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Fossa (animal) (Cryptoprocta ferox) reaches an average size of 72.7 cm (2′ 5″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). During their lifetime of about 20 years, they grow from 99 grams (0.22 lbs) to 9.5 kg (20.94 lbs). Talking about reproduction, Fossa (animal)s have 2 babies about 1 times per year. The Fossa (animal) (genus: Cryptoprocta) is a member of the family Viverridae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
The fossa ( or ; Malagasy pronunciation: [ˈfusə̥]; Cryptoprocta ferox) is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae, a family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family (Herpestidae). Its classification has been controversial because its physical traits resemble those of cats, yet other traits suggest a close relationship with viverrids (most civets and their relatives). Its classification, along with that of the other Malagasy carnivores, influenced hypotheses about how many times mammalian carnivores have colonized Madagascar. With genetic studies demonstrating that the fossa and all other Malagasy carnivores are most closely related to each other (forming a clade, recognized as the family Eupleridae), carnivorans are now thought to have colonized the island once, around 18 to 20 million years ago.The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island of Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar. 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. 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.The species is widespread, although population densities are usually low. It is found solely in forested habitat, and actively hunts both by day and night. Over 50% of its diet consists of lemurs, the endemic primates found on the island; tenrecs, rodents, lizards, birds, and other animals are also documented as prey. Mating usually occurs in trees on horizontal limbs and can last for several hours. Litters range from one to six pups, which are born blind and toothless (altricial). Infants wean after 4.5 months and are independent after a year. Sexual maturity occurs around three to four years of age, and life expectancy in captivity is 20 years. The fossa is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is generally feared by the Malagasy people and is often protected by their fady (taboo). The greatest threat to the species is habitat destruction.
Animals of the same family as a Fossa (animal)
We found other animals of the Viverridae family:
- Owston’s palm civet with a size of 57.2 cm (1′ 11″)
- Otter civet with a size of 62.6 cm (2′ 1″)
- Brown palm civet with a size of 58.9 cm (2′ 0″)
- Spotted linsang with a size of 35.4 cm (1′ 2″)
- Malagasy civet with a size of 45.7 cm (1′ 6″)
- Malabar large-spotted civet with a size of 84.5 cm (2′ 10″)
- Eastern falanouc with a size of 54.9 cm (1′ 10″)
- Aquatic genet with a size of 45.6 cm (1′ 6″)
- Servaline genet with a size of 49.4 cm (1′ 8″)
- Angolan genet with a size of 47.3 cm (1′ 7″)
Animals with the same size as a Fossa (animal)
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Fossa (animal):
- Suni with a size of 59.9 cm (2′ 0″)
- Stump-tailed macaque with a size of 60 cm (2′ 0″)
- Western long-beaked echidna with a size of 67.5 cm (2′ 3″)
- Aders’s duiker with a size of 69 cm (2′ 4″)
- Neotropical otter with a size of 60.2 cm (2′ 0″)
- Tonkean macaque with a size of 60 cm (2′ 0″)
- Northern plains gray langur with a size of 61 cm (2′ 1″)
- North American beaver with a size of 75.7 cm (2′ 6″)
- Hoary fox with a size of 60 cm (2′ 0″)
- Gray snub-nosed monkey with a size of 70.7 cm (2′ 4″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Fossa (animal)
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (2) as a Fossa (animal):
- Stirton’s deer mouse
- Greater dwarf shrew
- Plateau mouse
- Andean mouse
- Papua grassland mosaic-tailed rat
- Big-eared swamp rat
- Spotted-necked otter
- White-bellied mosaic-tailed rat
- New Guinean jumping mouse
- Grey-bellied squirrel
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Fossa (animal)
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Fossa (animal):
- Thorold’s deer with an average maximal age of 18 years
- Muskox with an average maximal age of 24 years
- Barbary macaque with an average maximal age of 22 years
- Bongo (antelope) with an average maximal age of 19.42 years
- Mountain gazelle with an average maximal age of 18.25 years
- Raccoon with an average maximal age of 20.83 years
- Siberian ibex with an average maximal age of 22.25 years
- Geoffroy’s bat with an average maximal age of 18 years
- Yellow-backed duiker with an average maximal age of 17.25 years
- Asian golden cat with an average maximal age of 18 years
Animals with the same weight as a Fossa (animal)
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Cryptoprocta ferox:
- Beira (antelope) with a weight of 10.91 kilos (24.05 lbs)
- Maxwell’s duiker with a weight of 8.56 kilos (18.87 lbs)
- Large Indian civet with a weight of 9.15 kilos (20.17 lbs)
- Hog badger with a weight of 8.17 kilos (18.01 lbs)
- Lowland paca with a weight of 8.17 kilos (18.01 lbs)
- Doria’s tree-kangaroo with a weight of 8.98 kilos (19.8 lbs)
- Patas monkey with a weight of 7.99 kilos (17.61 lbs)
- Gee’s golden langur with a weight of 8.36 kilos (18.43 lbs)
- Western brush wallaby with a weight of 8 kilos (17.64 lbs)
- Patagonian mara with a weight of 8.03 kilos (17.7 lbs)