Fanaloka
Fossa fossana
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 51
- Most observed in
- 🇲🇬 Madagascar
- Conservation
- Vulnerable
Description
The Malagasy civet or striped civet (Fossa fossana), also known as the spotted fanaloka or simply fanaloka (Malagasy, [fə̥ˈnaluk]) or jabady, is an euplerid endemic to Madagascar. It is the only species in genus Fossa. The Malagasy civet is a small mammal, about 47 centimetres (19 in) long excluding the tail (which is only about 20 centimetres (7.9 in)). It can weigh 1.5 to 2.0 kilograms (3.3 to 4.4 lb). It is endemic to the tropical forests of Madagascar. Malagasy civets are nocturnal. It eats small vertebrates, insects, aquatic animals, and eggs stolen from birds' nests. The mating season of the Malagasy civet is August to September and the gestation period is three months, ending with the birth of one young. The Malagasy civet is listed as Vulnerable by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Malagasy name fanaloka is related to the Malay word pelanduk "mousedeer" (via metathesis) likely due to their similar sizes and silhouette.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Malagasy civet”.