Φόσα: Διαφορά μεταξύ των αναθεωρήσεων

=== Diet ===

The fossa is a [[carnivore]] that hunts small to medium-sized animals. One of eight carnivorous species endemic to Madagascar, the fossa is the island's largest surviving endemic terrestrial mammal and the only predator capable of preying upon adults of all extant [[List of lemur species|lemur species]],{{r|1999Dollar|2005Patel}} the largest of which can weigh as much as 90% of the weight of the average fossa.{{r|2003NatHist-13b|2005Patel}} Although it is the predominant predator of lemurs,{{r|2005Patel|1995Wright}} reports of its dietary habits demonstrate a wide variety of prey selectivity and specialization depending on habitat and season; diet does not vary by sex. While the fossa is thought to be a lemur specialist in [[Ranomafana National Park]],{{r|1997Wright}} its diet is more variable in other rain forest habitats.

The diet of the fossa in the wild has been studied by analyzing their distinctive [[feces|scats]], which resemble gray cylinders with twisted ends and measure {{convert|10|–|14|cm|in|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|1.5|–|2.5|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} thick.{{r|2008Hawkins}} Scat collected and analyzed from both Andohahela and Andringitra contained lemur matter and rodents. Eastern populations in Andringitra incorporate the widest recorded variety of prey, including both vertebrates and [[invertebrate]]s. Vertebrates consumed ranged from [[reptile]]s to a wide variety of birds, including both [[understory]] and ground birds, and mammals, including [[insectivore]]s, [[rodent]]s, and lemurs. Invertebrates eaten by the fossa in the high mountain zone of Andringitra include insects and crabs.{{r|1996Goodman|1999Goodman}} One study found that vertebrates comprised 94% of the diet of fossas, with lemurs comprising over 50%, followed by [[tenrec]]s (9%), lizards (9%), and birds (2%). Seeds, which comprised 5% of the diet, may have been in the stomachs of the lemurs eaten, or may have been consumed with fruit taken for water, as seeds were more common in the stomach in the dry season. The average prey size varies geographically; it is only {{convert|40|g|oz}} in the high mountains of Andringitra, in contrast to {{convert|480|g|oz}} in humid forests and over {{convert|1000|g|oz}} in dry deciduous forests.{{r|2009HMWv1}} In a study of fossa diet in the dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar, more than 90% of prey items were vertebrates, and more than 50% were lemurs. The primary diet consisted of approximately six lemur species and two or three spiny tenrec species, along with snakes and small mammals.{{r|2008Hawkins}} Generally, the fossa preys upon larger lemurs and rodents in preference to smaller ones.{{r|1995Rasoloarison}}