By Evan Hyatt
Geographic Range
The Malagasy Civet or Striped Civet (Fossa fossana) is native to and located throughout Madagascar only.
Other Geographic Terms:
island endemic 
.
Habitat
Fossa fossana is found throughout most of Madagascar, from humid lowland forests to dryer higher elevations.
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
tropical .
Terrestrial Biomes:
rainforest ; scrub forest .
Physical Description
(3.3 to 4.4 lbs; avg. 3.85 lbs)
(15.75 to 17.72 in; avg. 16.73 in)
Fossa fossana has a body length between 40 and 45 cm plus a tail that is 21 to 25 cm is length, with the female usually being longer. They weigh between 1.5 and 2 kg. with the male weighing more.
They have short, dense fur which is a brownish color and has 4 rows of dark spots running along the back. The ventral side is more lightly colored. The face resembles that of a fox, with a body about the size and shape of a house cat.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
August - September
Fossa fossana form pairs around the time of mating, and each pair may have a home range of about a square mile during the mating season.
Mating systems:
monogamous .
Mating occurs during August and September with a single young being born after three months. The young have a full coat of fur, and their eyes are open at birth. They walk around day three, eat meat after a month, and are weaned at two to three months.
Key reproductive features:
seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (internal ); viviparous .
The young stay with the parents until about one year of age, when they move on to find their own home ranges.
Behavior
They store fat reserves in their tales for the winter, which can total up to about 25 percent of their total body weight.
Mating pairs mark they territory with scent. These scents are produced from anogenital, cheeck, and neck glands.
Key behaviors:
nocturnal ; motile ; territorial .
Food Habits
Fossa fossana eat small mammals including rodents and tenrecs. They also feed on reptiles, frogs, small birds, and invertebrates including freshwater crabs.
They forage on the ground and in low trees and brush, and are usually active at night.
Primary Diet:
carnivore (eats terrestrial vertebrates, insectivore , eats non-insect arthropods).
Predation
Malagasy civets have very few natural predators as adults, but young animals may be eaten by snakes, birds, and other predators. They are also sometimes preyed upon by dogs that have been introduced to madagascar, and they are hunted by humans for food.
Fossa fossana uses camoflauge and the fact that it is nocturnal to avoid predators.
Ecosystem Roles
Fossa fossana fills the ecological niche most commonly filled by fox or cat like animals.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The Striped Civet is beneficial to humans because it is hunted for food. It is also a popular attraction for tourists who can photograph it rather easily because it can be attracted to bait stations.
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
food ; ecotourism .
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Vulnerable.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
Appendix II.
The current listing is based on a suspected population decrease in a range larger or equal to 20% over the last 10 years, along with a decrease in the size and quality of the habitat. The decrease is furthered by trapping of the civets for food, and competition with the Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica)
Other Comments
The Striped Civet is the second biggest Madagascar carnivore after the Fossa (C~ryptoprocta ferox~). Most likely, an early uncertainty in the differences of these two animals has been continued in the similarity of the Malagasy name for one and the scientific name of the other.
There used to be a larger species of Fossa that is now extinct.
For More Information
Find Fossa fossana information at
Contributors
Evan Hyatt (author), University of Michigan.
Bret Weinstein (editor), University of Michigan.
