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Malagasy Civet
(Fossa fossana)
Taxonomy Physical Description Range
and Habitat Behavior Reproduction Diet Predation Conservation Status Links
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Carnivora
Family: Eupleridae
Subfamily: Euplerinae
Genus: Fossa
Species: fossana
The Malagasy civet has short dense fur that is brownish in color and has 4 rows of dark spots running along its body. The underside is a much lighter color. Their face resembles a fox and their body is about the size and shape of a house cat. The Malagasy civets body length is between 40 and 45 centimeters and a tail that is 21 to 25 centimeters. They weigh between 3.3 and4.4 pounds. The female is usually longer, but the male weighs more.
The Malagasy civet can be found throughout Madagascar, from the humid lowland forests to higher elevations that are dryer.
The Malagasy civets form pairs and they maintain a home range of up to a square mile. Both sexes will scent mark their boundaries. The scents are produced from glands around and in the anus, cheeks, and the neck. The Malagasy civet is a nocturnal species. They are not good climbers and spend a lot of time at the ravines. The Malagasy civet will store fat for the winter in their tail, and can be up to 25% of their body weight.
The Malagasy civets mating season occurs during August and September. They have a gestation period of three months, and have only one young. The eyes of the infant are already open at birth and are fully furred. At three days old the young will start walking around. They will start to eat meat after a month and will be fully weaned at two to three months. The young will stay with the parents until they are about a year old, and then will move on and find their own territory.
The
Malagasy civet feed on small mammals which include rodents and tenrecs.
They will also eat reptiles, frogs, birds, invertebrates and freshwater
crabs. They will hunt on the ground, in low trees and
brush.
The Malagasy civet have few
natural predators as an adult. While young animals may be eaten by birds,
snakes, and other predators. They are even prayed on by dogs that have
been introduced to Madagascar, and they are also hunted by humans for
food. They will use camouflage
The Malagasy civet is listed under CITES Appendix II
and under the IUCN Red List as vulnerable. This species is
threatened due to the decrease in size and quality of their
habitat. Also, they are being hunted for food.
Malagasy civet info at Lioncrusher's Domain
Malagasy civet info at Animal Diversity Web
Malagasy info at Fossa fossana
For more information contact the Small Carnivore TAG Liaison
Website Created By
Nichole Guerette
Pensacola Junior College, Zoo Animal Technology Program, Fall 2006
