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What does fossa mean?

Definitions for fossa
ˈfɒs ə; ˈfɒs ifos·sa

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word fossa.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pit, fossanoun

    a concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical depression)

  2. Fossa, genus Fossanoun

    monotypic genus of Madagascar civets closely related to palm civets

  3. fossa, fossa cat, Cryptoprocta feroxnoun

    largest carnivore of Madagascar; intermediate in some respects between cats and civets

ChatGPT

  1. fossa

    A fossa is a term used in anatomy to refer to a depression or hollow space in a bone or organ. It's generally used to describe a structure that gives space for another organ or tissue. In zoology, Fossa is also a type of carnivorous mammal endemic to Madagascar.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Fossanoun

    a pit, groove, cavity, or depression, of greater or less depth; as, the temporal fossa on the side of the skull; the nasal fossae containing the nostrils in most birds

  2. Etymology: [L., a ditch. See Fosse.]

Wikidata

  1. Fossa

    The fossa is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae, a family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family. Its classification has been controversial because its physical traits resemble those of cats, yet other traits suggest a close relationship with viverrids. Its classification, along with that of the other Malagasy carnivores, influenced hypotheses about how many times mammalian carnivores have colonized the island. With genetic studies demonstrating that the fossa and all other Malagasy carnivores are most closely related to each other, carnivorans are now thought to have colonized the island once around 18 to 20 million years ago. The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island of Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar. Adults have a head-body length of 70–80 cm and weigh between 5.5–8.6 kg, with the males larger than the females. It has semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and down trees head-first, and also support jumping from tree to tree. The fossa is unique within its family for the shape of its genitalia, which share traits with those of cats and hyenas.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Fossa

    fos′a, n. (anat.) a pit or depression in a body, esp. that in an animal integument forming a point of attachment for an organ.—n. Fossette′, a dimple or small depression. [L., a ditch.]

Editors Contribution

  1. fossa

    A natural space within the body of an animal, human or mammal.

    There are a variety of fossa within the human body e.g. cranial fossa any one of three hollows (anterior, middle, and posterior) in the base of the cranium for the lobes of the brain, popliteal fossa located at the posterior of the knee.


    Submitted by MaryC on September 20, 2015  

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. FOSSA

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fossa is ranked #81772 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Fossa surname appeared 231 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Fossa.

    95.6% or 221 total occurrences were White.
    3% or 7 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of fossa in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of fossa in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Popularity rank by frequency of use

fossa#10000#66109#100000

References

Translations for fossa

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"fossa." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/fossa>.

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