What is Fossa?
{{about|the animal with the common name '''fossa'''|the taxonomic genus Fossa|Malagasy civet}} {{speciesbox | name = Fossa<ref>Wozencraft W.C. 2005. Order Carnivora. In Wilson D.E. & Reeder D.M. ''Mammal species of the world''. 3rd ed, Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 559–561. {{ISBN|978-0-8018-8221-0}} [http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000446]</ref> | image = Cryptoprocta Ferox.JPG | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>Hawkins A.F.A. & Dollar L. 2008. ''Cryptoprocta ferox''. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/5760/0]</ref> | genus = Cryptoprocta | parent_authority = [[Edward Turner Bennett|Bennett]], 1833 | species = ferox | authority = [[Edward Turner Bennett|Bennett]], 1833 | synonyms = *''typicus'' <small>[[Andrew Smith (zoologist)|A. Smith]], 1834</small> | range_map = Cryptoprocta ferox range map.svg | range_map_alt = Range map showing the fossa's distribution in Madagascar. Areas in red mark its distribution and run along the outer edge of the island. | range_map_caption=Distribution of ''Cryptoprocta ferox''<ref name=IUCN/> }} The '''fossa''' (''Cryptoprocta ferox'') is a [[cat]]-like, carnivorous [[mammal]] [[endemism|endemic]] to [[Madagascar]]. It is a member of the [[Eupleridae]], a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[carnivora]]ns closely related to the [[mongoose]] family (Herpestidae). Its [[biological classification|classification]] has been controversial because it looks like a [[Felidae|cat]]. However, other traits suggest a close relationship with [[Viverridae|viverrids]] (most [[civet]]s and their relatives). Its classification influenced thought about how many times mammalian carnivores had colonized Madagascar. Genetic studies now show that the fossa and all other Malagasy carnivores are closely related to each other: they are a [[Cladistics|clade]], the family Eupleridae. Carnivorans are now thought to have colonized the island once about 18 to 20 million years ag