Cranial Morphology and Feeding Behavior in the Madagascan Fossa
Start Date
August 2024
End Date
August 2024
Location
ALT 207
Abstract
The fossa is widely known as the largest land mammal in Madagascar belonging to the family Eupleridae. Despite its cat-like appearance, some of its traits and behaviors indicate its close relation to the mongoose and civet families Herpestidae and Viverridae, respectively. This study investigated the relationship between cranial morphology and dietary and hunting adaptations in the fossa. Several cranial features that have been shown to be good indicators of feeding and killing behavior were analyzed in the Fossa and its closest relatives as well as in inland African carnivoran species in the families Felidae and Hyenidae. The Fossa displayed a combination of cranial features that were more similar to those of the mongoose and hyena including a significantly longer snout than the cats, a relatively smaller masseter muscle, and relatively smaller moment-arms of both the temporalis and masseter muscles. The Fossa was also more similar to inland carnivoran species (hyenids and cats) than to the mongoose in having a significantly greater mechanical advantage at the lower first molar. The mechanical advantage at the canine was greatest in cats which differed significantly from the Fossa, mongoose and hyena, which displayed lower values. These results indicate that the fossa has undergone convergent evolution that has resulted in a mosaic of skull characteristics resembling not only the mongoose but also hyenids and cats.
Cranial Morphology and Feeding Behavior in the Madagascan Fossa
ALT 207
The fossa is widely known as the largest land mammal in Madagascar belonging to the family Eupleridae. Despite its cat-like appearance, some of its traits and behaviors indicate its close relation to the mongoose and civet families Herpestidae and Viverridae, respectively. This study investigated the relationship between cranial morphology and dietary and hunting adaptations in the fossa. Several cranial features that have been shown to be good indicators of feeding and killing behavior were analyzed in the Fossa and its closest relatives as well as in inland African carnivoran species in the families Felidae and Hyenidae. The Fossa displayed a combination of cranial features that were more similar to those of the mongoose and hyena including a significantly longer snout than the cats, a relatively smaller masseter muscle, and relatively smaller moment-arms of both the temporalis and masseter muscles. The Fossa was also more similar to inland carnivoran species (hyenids and cats) than to the mongoose in having a significantly greater mechanical advantage at the lower first molar. The mechanical advantage at the canine was greatest in cats which differed significantly from the Fossa, mongoose and hyena, which displayed lower values. These results indicate that the fossa has undergone convergent evolution that has resulted in a mosaic of skull characteristics resembling not only the mongoose but also hyenids and cats.
