Cryptoprocta spelea (Giant Fossa)

[sordes]

I made again some further research, and it turned out that there are very different states about the actual size of C. ferox. According to several sources, even big male modern fossas reach a complete length of 1,7m, so C. spelea did very probably reach a complete length of at least 2m. But on the other hand, I probably have to downsize the weight. Given the length difference between the skulls, I would suppose a calculated weight difference of about 86%, but as I suppose C. spelea was a bit stockier, the double weight would be more probable. But how much actually weighs a big male fossa? I found weights of 8kg, 10kg, 14kg, 17kg and even 17kg. So depending on the actual weight of a big male fossa, there could be very big differences. The case of the killed giant fossa is interesting, because 2m length and 30kg could well fit the giant fossas proportions.

[another specialist]

The Fossa is a carnivore. It is a ferocious hunter that eats small to medium sized animals, from fish to birds, but is particularly adept at hunting lemurs, and is the predominant predator for many species, with only Madagascar's large snakes having any other significant predatory impact. Malagasy folklore often exaggerates the ferocity of the Fossa, claiming that it will prey upon cattle, or even humans. The fossil record of Madagascar has yielded the remains of a giant, recently extinct Fossa Cryptoprocta spelea, which was about 6 feet long and weighed 200 pounds, making it close to the size of an leopard. This species was believed to have preyed upon the larger, ape-sized lemurs that inhabited Madagascar until the island was settled by man. The Fossa has no natural predators, but may be consumed incidentally by the Nile crocodile.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossa_(animal)

[sordes]

Again a highly exagerated claim for the weight.

[another specialist]

Yes, lots of guess work.

[surroundx]

Rosenberger, Alfred L. et al. (In Press, 2015). Giant subfossil lemur graveyard discovered, submerged, in Madagascar. Journal of Human Evolution. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.01.004

[surroundx]

Meador, Lindsay Renee, Godrefy, Laurie Rohde, Rakotondramavo, Jean Claude, Ranivoharimanana, Lovasoa, Zamora, Andrew, Sutherland, Michael Reed and Irwin, Mitchell T. (2017). Cryptoprocta spelea (Carnivora: Eupleridae): What Did It Eat and How Do We Know? Journal of Mammalian Evolution. doi:10.1007/s10914-017-9391-z [Abstract]

[surroundx]

Meador, Lindsay Renee. (2017). Who Ate the Subfossil Lemurs? A Taphonomic and Community Study of Raptor, Crocodylian and Carnivoran Predation of the Extinct Quaternary Lemurs of Madagascar. Dissertation. xvii + 388 pp.

[surroundx]

Scientific Name: Cryptoprocta spelea Grandidier, 1902
Common Name(s):
English – Giant Fosa, Giant Fossa
Taxonomic Notes: Grandidier (1902) described a large form of Cryptoprocta ferox from subfossil material dating from the presumed Holocene in Madagascar that he referred to the variety spelea. Subsequently, there has been varying opinion on the validity of this taxon. Goodman et al. (2004) examined and analysed 159 subfossil and 32 modern osteological specimens of Cryptoprocta and concluded that this was a valid species that existed on Madagascar in the recent geological past.
Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Extinct ver 3.1
Year Published: 2015
Date Assessed: 2015-01-28
Assessor(s): Hoffmann, M. & Hawkins, F.
Reviewer(s): Duckworth, J.W.
Justification:
This species is listed as Extinct as there is no evidence to suggest that this large species of Cryptoprocta currently survives on Madagascar. It is currently known only from subfossil remains and is believed to have survived at least into the recent geological past.
Previously published Red List assessments:
2008 – Extinct (EX)
Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: On the basis of current subfossil evidence, Cryptoprocta spelea occurred at a variety of sites from Lakaton’ny Akanga in the far north near Antsiranana, along the western portion of Madagascar, south to numerous sites at the southern end of the island; it is also recorded on the central highlands at Antsirabe (Goodman et al. 2004).
Countries occurrence:
Regionally extinct:
Madagascar
Additional data:
♦ Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) - km2: 0
♦ Number of Locations: 0
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]

Population: It is extinct.
Additional data:
♦ Number of mature individuals: 0
♦ Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: Given the size of Cryptoprocta spelea, its massive jaws and large carnassial teeth, it must have been a formidable predator and certainly capable of taking larger prey than the extant C. ferox. Evidence suggests that the two forms of Cryptoprocta might have been separated well enough in size to be able to coexist (Goodman et al. 2004).
Systems: Terrestrial
Use and Trade [top]

Use and Trade: There are no uses at present as this species is extinct.
Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): The reasons for the disappearance of this species on Madagascar (its entire world range) are unknown.
Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: No conservation actions are needed because the species is extinct.
Citation: Hoffmann, M. & Hawkins, F. 2015. Cryptoprocta spelea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T136456A45221489. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T136456A45221489.en. Downloaded on 18 November 2017.

Source: www.iucnredlist.org/details/136456/0

[Sebbe]

Subfossil lemur discoveries from the Beanka Protected Area in western Madagascar.

A new fossil site in a previously unexplored part of western Madagascar (the Beanka Protected Area) has yielded remains of many recently extinct vertebrates, including giant lemurs (Babakotia radofilai, Palaeopropithecus kelyus, Pachylemur sp., and Archaeolemur edwardsi), carnivores (Cryptoprocta spelea), the aardvark-like Plesiorycteropus sp., and giant ground cuckoos (Coua). Many of these represent considerable range extensions. Extant species that were extirpated from the region (e.g., Prolemur simus) are also present. Calibrated radiocarbon ages for 10 bones from extinct primates span the last three millennia. The largely undisturbed taphonomy of bone deposits supports the interpretation that many specimens fell in from a rock ledge above the entrance. Some primates and other mammals may have been prey items of avian predators, but human predation is also evident. Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) suggest that fossils were local to the area. Pottery sherds and bones of extinct and extant vertebrates with cut and chop marks indicate human activity in previous centuries. Scarcity of charcoal and human artifacts suggests only occasional visitation to the site by humans. The fossil assemblage from this site is unusual in that, while it contains many sloth lemurs, it lacks ratites, hippopotami, and crocodiles typical of nearly all other Holocene subfossil sites on Madagascar.

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/quaternary-research/article/subfossil-lemur-discoveries-from-the-beanka-protected-area-in-western-madagascar/FFF442F4FA0FDA35440158CFA3E97A8F

[surroundx]

More reports of the possible survival of Cryptoprocta spelaea:

Nomenjanahary, E. S., Freed, B. Z., Dollar, L. J., Randrianasy, J. and Godfrey, L. R. (2021). The stories people tell, and how they can contribute to our understanding of megafaunal decline and extinction in Madagascar. eds. K. Douglass, L. R. Godfrey & D. A. Burney. Malagasy Nature, 15: 159-179.

[Sebbe]

Reconstructing behavior in large-bodied, extinct Cryptoprocta species and their impact on Malagasy lemurs past and present.
www.researchgate.net/publication/381636562_Reconstructing_behavior_in_large-bodied_extinct_Cryptoprocta_species_and_their_impact_on_Malagasy_lemurs_past_and_present

[Sebbe]

The macroevolutionary impact of recent and imminent mammal extinctions on Madagascar.

Many of Madagascar’s unique species are threatened with extinction. However, the severity of recent and potential extinctions in a global evolutionary context is unquantified. Here, we compile a phylogenetic dataset for the complete non-marine mammalian biota of Madagascar and estimate natural rates of extinction, colonization, and speciation. We measure how long it would take to restore Madagascar’s mammalian biodiversity under these rates, the “evolutionary return time” (ERT). At the time of human arrival there were approximately 250 species of mammals on Madagascar, resulting from 33 colonisation events (28 by bats), but at least 30 of these species have gone extinct since then. We show that the loss of currently threatened species would have a much deeper long-term impact than all the extinctions since human arrival. A return from current to pre-human diversity would take 1.6 million years (Myr) for bats, and 2.9 Myr for non-volant mammals. However, if species currently classified as threatened go extinct, the ERT rises to 2.9 Myr for bats and 23 Myr for non-volant mammals. Our results suggest that an extinction wave with deep evolutionary impact is imminent on Madagascar unless immediate conservation actions are taken.

www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35215-3

[Sebbe]

Who Ate the Subfossil Lemurs? A Taphonomic and Community Study of Raptor, Crocodylian and Carnivoran Predation of the Extinct Quaternary Lemurs of Madagascar.

protectedareas.mg/document/show/269191