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rhamphotheca:

Malagasy or Striped civet (Fossa fossana)

… also known as the fanaloka, is a rare euplerid endemic to Madagascar. It should not be confused with the fossa (common name), a similar animal also endemic to Madagascar, which has the scientific name Cryptoprocta ferox. Nor is it the same as the related—and similarly named—Malagasy carnivore the falanouc, which is also a euplerine.

It is a small mammal: about 47 cm excluding the tail (which is only about 20 cm) and 2.5 kg. It has the appearance and movements of a small fox. The sources disagree over whether its claws are retractile. It has no anal glands, unlike other civets. It is endemic to the tropical forests of Madagascar, and specifically can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.

Nocturnal, though sources disagree over whether it is solitary or, unusual among euplerids, lives in pairs. It is not a good climber and frequents ravines. It eats small vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, and amphibians), insects, and eggs stolen from birds’ nests…

(read more: Wikipedia)      

(images: T - unattributed; R - by Hectonichus; L - by Rbrausse)

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