Fossa vs Smooth hound

Cryptoprocta ferox compared with Triakis maculata

Key Differences

• Fossa is Vulnerable while Smooth hound is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fossa	Smooth hound
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
Family	Eupleridae	Triakidae
Genus	Cryptoprocta	Triakis
Species	Cryptoprocta ferox	Triakis maculata

Evolutionary Relationship

Fossa and Smooth hound share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Fossa

VU — Vulnerable

Smooth hound

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fossa	Smooth hound
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Fossa

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Smooth hound

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate grasslands and steppes, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Found in Chile. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.