Fossa vs Spotted Salamander

Cryptoprocta ferox compared with Ambystoma maculatum

Key Differences

• Fossa is Vulnerable while Spotted Salamander is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fossa	Spotted Salamander
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Caudata (Caudata)
Family	Eupleridae	Ambystomatidae
Genus	Cryptoprocta	Ambystoma
Species	Cryptoprocta ferox	Ambystoma maculatum

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Fossa

VU — Vulnerable

Spotted Salamander

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fossa	Spotted Salamander
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Fossa

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Spotted Salamander

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in United States.