Striped civet, Malagasy fanaloka, Jabady, Malagasy, Fanaloka
The Malagasy or striped civet (Fossa fossana ), also known as the fanaloka (Malagasy, ) or jabady, is an euplerid endemic to Madagascar.
The Malagasy civet is a small mammal, about 47 centimetres (19 in) long excluding the tail (which is only about 20 centimetres (7.9 in)). It can weigh 1.5 to 2.0 kilograms (3.3 to 4.4 lb). It is endemic to the tropical forests of Madagascar. Malagasy civets are nocturnal. It eats small vertebrates, insects, aquatic animals, 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 Malagasy civet is listed as Vulnerable by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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Island endemicIsland endemic animals are found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island. Animals or organisms that are indigenous to a place ar...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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starts withMalagasy civets are small mammals native to tropical forests of Madagascar. They are the second largest carnivore in Madagascar after the fossa. Malagasy civets have the appearance and movements of a small fox. They have a short coat greyish beige or brown in color, with dark black horizontal stripes running from head to tail, where the stripes are vertical, wrapping around the bushier tail. Near the belly, the stripes morph into spots. Legs of these animals are short and very thin.
Malagasy civets are found in lowland and rainforest areas of Eastern and Northern parts of Madagascar. They can also be found in humid and isolated forests in Amber Mountain National Park, and farther north in the less-humid forests of Ankarana Reserve.
Malagasy civets are nocturnal and generally solitary animals. During the day, they sleep in hollow trees, under fallen logs, or amongst rocks. They are not good climbers and frequent ravines. Malagasy civets are very shy and secretive. Their vocalizations are similar to crying and groaning, as well as a sound similar to coq-coq. Pairs of males and females defend large territories which are marked with scent from anogenital, cheek, and neck glands. During the winter, these animals may store fat in their tail, which can make up 25% of their weight.
Malagasy civets are carnivorous animals. They eat small vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, and amphibians), insects, aquatic animals, and eggs stolen from birds' nests.
Malagasy civets are monogamous which means that males and females have only one partner and form pairs. The breeding season occurs from August to September and the gestation period is around 3 months. Females usually give birth to a single pup. The young are born well-developed and weigh around 65 to 70 grams (2.3 to 2.5 oz). They are weaned in 2-3 months and leave their parents at around one year old.
Malagasy civets are threatened by deforestation, hunting, charcoal production, logging, and competition from introduced species such as dogs, cats, and small Indian civets.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Malagasy civet is unknown. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.