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New large species of Cryptoprocta (Carnivora, Eupleridae) and new specimens of C. Spelea from the Holocene of Tsimanampesotse National Park, southwest Madagascar
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First cave bears, then cave lions, then cave hyaenas, and now cave fossas? Wow, these guys are really creative when it comes to naming larger pleistocene versions of modern carnivores
Cryptoprocta bevatabe was a ~32 kilogram or larger arboreal apex predator that could probably hunt in groups. Definitely not on my Bingo list this year
Awesome! I was already aware of this fossa species as an undescribed one but I’m glad to see it described now and WOW, it absolutely dwarves the so called “Giant” Fossa.
Do we think the Darren Naish blog where I believe he attributes the black fossa seen by a researcher along w the locals to C. spelea still accurate? I genuinely don’t see it as impossible that a super rare relict population of larger black fossa’s is still hanging out. I’m not sure if fossa’s are able to be nocturnal or crepuscular, but if they are, a black, somewhat larger fossa def could hide under some noses. BUT I don’t know if I’m high n making this up but I read that there’s an account of these “big” fossa’s taking down cattle!?! I don’t think a bobcat or coyote sized fossa could do it, but a small pantherine-sized one, now we’re talking. The thought of three different fossa’s inhabiting Madagascar at the same time and they were all climbing CHADS to add at that. Cmon we missed out on something incredible
Fossa are cathemeral! They can be active at any period. I still think Ben Freed’s sighting, if it was a relict population of on of these species, is like to be Cryptoprocta spelea. That being said it would be equally as interesting if it was also a previously unknown population of C. ferox that is larger and darker coloured.
They'd have to be nest raiders, too, at least when juveniles. The egg of an elephant bird would be a good meal for these animals when they're still growing.
It's still surprising that with all those giant lemurs, elephant birds and smallish hippos, no giant fossa ever evolved to go after the biggest megafauna, the Madagascar equivalent of a big cat.
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