Fossa

The fossa is the largest carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar, found only on the island, where it occupies the ecological role that big cats fill elsewhere despite belonging to its own family most closely related to mongooses rather than to cats. It has a slender, muscular body, short reddish-brown fur and a long tail nearly as long as its body, which aids balance during agile movement through trees, where it is an accomplished climber and one of the few predators capable of pursuing lemurs directly through the forest canopy. Largely solitary and both diurnal and nocturnal depending on the individual, the fossa preys on a wide range of animals but is best known as the primary natural predator of lemurs, several species of which make up a significant part of its diet. Habitat loss from widespread deforestation across Madagascar has fragmented fossa populations and brought it into increasing conflict with farmers over livestock, and the species is classified as vulnerable, with its long-term survival closely tied to the fate of Madagascar remaining native forest.