Fossa - Fossa (English spelling)

It is a mammalian animal of the order Carnivora and family Viverridae. It is found in the forests of Madagascar and is the largest carnivorous animal on the island. Its head and body length is 60-75 cm, its tail length 55-70 cm, and it weighs 7-12 kg. Its body is slender and long, its ears and head are round, and its claws are sharp and retractable, similar to a cat. Its walking style is semi-plantigrade. Its hair is short and dense, its dorsal color is reddish brown, and its ventral surface is slightly lighter. It lives on the ground and has keen hearing and vision. It is active from dusk to night, feeding on lemurs and birds, but occasionally attacks poultry and livestock. It usually lives alone, but forms small groups of several during the breeding season from September to October. Males mark their territory with secretions from their anal glands and preputial glands. They give birth to 2 to 4 babies from December to January of the following year.

[Yoshiyuki Mizuko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱食肉目ジャコウネコ科の動物。マダガスカル島の森林地帯に分布し、島内の食肉類としては最大種である。頭胴長60～75センチメートル、尾長55～70センチメートル、体重7～12キログラム。体が細長くて尾も長く、耳介や頭が丸く、鉤(かぎ)づめは鋭くて引っ込めることができ、ネコに類似する。歩行様式は半蹠行(しょこう)性。毛は短くて密生し、体の背面の色は赤褐色、腹面はやや淡い。地上にすみ、聴覚や視覚は鋭い。夕方から夜にかけて活動し、キツネザル、鳥などを食べるが、ときに家禽(かきん)や家畜を襲う。普通は単独で生活し、9～10月の繁殖期には数頭の小群をつくる。雄は肛門腺(こうもんせん)や包皮腺から分泌される分泌液をつけて縄張りを示す。12月～翌年1月に1産2～4子を産む。

［吉行瑞子］

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