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Eupleridae
family of carnivorans / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The family Eupleridae is a group of carnivores found in Madagascar.[1] The family has of eight species and seven genera in two subfamilies. They live in a variety of habitats, from humid forests, marshes, bogs, and swamps, to deserts and savannas.
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Fossa | |
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Family: | Eupleridae Chenu, 1850 |
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Euplerinae |
The Euplerids are a clade. They are descendents of ancestors which rafted over from Africa about 20 million years ago (mya). They are closely related to mongooses.[2] The fossa and the Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana) are believed to be the most ancient surviving species in this group.
Euplerids usually have slender bodies with relatively small heads. Head and body length ranges from 250 mm to 800 mm. Euplerids are primarily carnivorous, eating small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Fossa fossana and Galidia elegans may also eat some fruit.