Fanaloka
Encyclopedia
The Malagasy or striped civet (Fossa fossana), also known as the fanaloka (Malagasy, fə̥ˈnaluk), is a rare euplerid
endemic to Madagascar
.
Previously, the Malagasy Civet was placed in the subfamily Hemigalinae
with the banded palm civet
s and then in its own subfamily, Fossinae, but it is now classified as a member of the subfamily Euplerinae
. It has also been classified Fossa fossa. 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
. It has a short coat greyish beige in colour, with dark black horizontal stripes running from head to tail, where the stripes are vertical, wrapping around the bushier tail. The stripes morph into spots near the belly. Its legs are short and very thin. The sources disagree over whether its claws are retractile. It has no anal glands, unlike other civet
s. It is endemic
to the tropical forests of Madagascar, and specifically can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests
.
It is 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.
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 young are rather well-developed, with opened eyes, and they are weaned in 10 weeks.
Little else is known due to its rarity, it may be naturally rare or it may be greatly affected by human endeavours.
Eupleridae
The family Eupleridae is a group of carnivorans endemic to Madagascar and comprising 10 known species in seven genera. Probably the best known species is the Fossa , in the subfamily Euplerinae...
endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
.
Previously, the Malagasy Civet was placed in the subfamily Hemigalinae
Hemigalinae
Hemigalinae is a subfamily of Viverridae.* Subfamily Hemigalinae** Genus Chrotogale*** Owston's Palm Civet ** Genus Cynogale*** Otter Civet ** Genus Diplogale...
with the banded palm civet
Banded Palm Civet
The banded palm civet is a civet found in the tall forests of Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Though it lives in the forests, it spends much of its time on the ground....
s and then in its own subfamily, Fossinae, but it is now classified as a member of the subfamily Euplerinae
Euplerinae
Euplerinae is a subfamily of carnivorans that includes three species restricted to Madagascar. Together with the subfamily Galidiinae, which also occurs on Madagascar only, it forms the family Eupleridae...
. It has also been classified Fossa fossa. It should not be confused with the fossa
Fossa (animal)
The fossa is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae, a family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family . Its classification has been controversial because its physical traits resemble those of cats, yet other traits suggest a...
(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
Falanouc
The Falanouc is a rare mongoose-like mammal endemic Malagasy euplerid .It is classified alongside its closest living relative, the Fanaloka, in the subfamily Euplerinae. The Falanouc has several peculiarities which merit its independent classification...
, which is also a euplerine.
It is a small mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
: 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
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
. It has a short coat greyish beige in colour, with dark black horizontal stripes running from head to tail, where the stripes are vertical, wrapping around the bushier tail. The stripes morph into spots near the belly. Its legs are short and very thin. The sources disagree over whether its claws are retractile. It has no anal glands, unlike other civet
Civet
The family Viverridae is made up of around 30 species of medium-sized mammal, including all of the genets, the binturong, most of the civets, and the two African linsangs....
s. It is endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to the tropical forests of Madagascar, and specifically can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests
Madagascar dry deciduous forests
The Madagascar dry deciduous forests represent a tropical dry forest ecoregion generally situated in the western part of Madagascar. The area has high numbers of endemic plant and animal species but has suffered large-scale clearance for agriculture...
.
It is 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.
The mating season of the Malagasy Civet is August to September and the gestation period
Gestation period
For mammals the gestation period is the time in which a fetus develops, beginning with fertilization and ending at birth. The duration of this period varies between species.-Duration:...
is three months, ending with the birth of one young. The young are rather well-developed, with opened eyes, and they are weaned in 10 weeks.
Little else is known due to its rarity, it may be naturally rare or it may be greatly affected by human endeavours.
Sources
- Macdonald, David (ed). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. (New York, 1984)
- Anderson, Simon (ed). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals. (MilanMilanMilan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, 1982)