Cryptoprocta
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Fossa ( Cryptoprocta ferox ) |
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| Cryptoprocta | ||||||||||||
| Bennett , 1833 | ||||||||||||
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Cryptoprocta is a genus of carnivores (Carnivora)endemicto Madagascar . In addition to the fossa ,this genus also includessome extinct representatives. The generic name ("hidden anus ") alludes to the large anal sacs of the fossas.
features
The largest predators of Madagascar belong to this genus. The fossa reaches a head trunk length of up to 80 centimeters and a weight of up to 12 kilograms, the extinct giant fossa was considerably larger. Characteristic for the genus is the short facial skull, which gives them a cat-like appearance, as well as the well-defined “ crushing scissors ” (last upper premolar and first lower molar ) in the teeth. Their physique is slender and elongated, the tail very long.
Systematics
Based on genetic studies of the fossa, the genus Cryptoprocta is now classified in the group of Malagasy carnivores , a taxon that includes all carnivores living in Madagascar that may have evolved from a mongoose-like ancestor. Together with the Falanuk and the Fanaloka , it forms the subfamily of the Euplerinae.
A total of three possible types have been described:
- the fossa ( Cryptoprocta ferox ),
- the extinct giant fossa ( Cryptoprocta spelea )
- and possibly a third, also extinct, species, Cryptoprocta antamba .
In 1902 the remains of an animal were discovered in a cave, which was initially listed as a subspecies of the fossa with the name C. ferox spelea . After further discoveries and extensive investigations, Steven Goodman et al. to the result that these deserve the rank of a separate species (giant fossa, C. spelea ) among other things due to their larger dimensions . By C. antamba only one was lower jaw found, which is different in shape from the other members of this genus. Their species status is unclear, possibly it is just a malformed individual of the giant fossa.
See also
literature
- Michael Köhncke, Klaus Leonhardt: Cryptoprocta ferox . In: Mammalian Species . tape 254 , 1986, pp. 1-5 ( PDF ).
- Steven M. Goodman, Rodin M. Rasoloarison, Jörg U. Ganzhorn: On the specific identification of subfossil Cryptoprocta (Mammalia, Carnivora) from Madagascar . In: Zoosystema . tape 26 , no. 1 , 2004, p. 129-143 ( PDF ).
