Home
 About Madagascar
  Maps
  FAQs
  People
  History
  Environment
 Flora
 Wildlife
  Birds
  Fish
  Frogs
  Invertebrates
  Lemurs
  Mammals
  Reptiles
 Places
  Antananarivo
 Conservation
  ANGAP
  Parks
  Guides
  News
 Photos
 Educational
 Media resources
 Madagascar News
 Store
 Madagascar Travel
 About the site
 How to help
 Books
 Links
 Contact




What is a Fousa?


"Fousa" is a fictional character in Dreamworks' film MADAGASCAR. Fousa is based on a real-life animal found in Madgascar called the Fossa (pronounced "foo sa").


Fossa picture by Julie Larsen Maher / WCS

The fossa is a carnivore that is related to a mongoose and looks like a cross between a puma and a dog. Fossas that hunt almost any animal including insects, reptiles, rodents and lemurs. They also prey on chickens in and around Malagasy villages and are hunted by local people as vermin.

Fossa are active both in trees and on the ground and are excellent climbers using their long tail for balance and retractable claws for climbing straight up and down tree trunks.

  • Fossa were first classified as cats but later taxonimists realized that they are closely related to the mongoose.
  • An adult fossa may weight 22-to-26-pounds.
  • Fossa are found in deciduous to moist forest habitats throughout Madagascar but are somewhat rare.
  • The fossa is Madagascar's largest predator.
    fusa / fussa


    Find a mistake? Want to submit pictures or content? Contact WildMadagascar.org

    Almost all pictures on this site were taken with a Konica Minolta



  • WILDMADAGASCAR.ORG
    WildMadagascar.org aims to raise interest in Madagascar, a land of cultural and biological richness

    Madagascar
    Madagascar Pictures
    Madagascar News
    People of Madagascar
    About the site
    Educational materials
    Help Madagascar
    In French




    SUPPORT
    You can help support wildmadagascar.org by using this link to buy from Amazon.com.


    Beautifully illustrated with full color photographs throughout, Madagascar Wildlife is a celebration of the unique fauna of a remarkable island and the perfect accompaniment to Bradt's popular general travel guide, Madagascar.







    Madagascar news


    This portable guide offers a full survey of all Madagascar's mammals, both endemic and introduced, including many newly identified species. With vivid color photographs, line illustrations, and maps, Mammals of Madagascar: A Complete Guide is an essential book for any visitor.


    GEAR

  • Madagascar Wildlife T-shirt
  • Dancing lemurs T-shirt
  • Madagascar Chameleons Calendar
  • Madagascar wildlife bag



  • home | photos index | search | about | contact

    Unless otherwise noted, all content and images are the property of Rhett Butler, content copyright 2004-2009.
    All rights reserved.