A small carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar, resembling a mongoose or civet cat; a creature of the Malagasy fauna.
From Malagasy 'fanaloka,' the native name for this animal. The word entered English through zoological literature as European naturalists catalogued Madagascar's unique wildlife in the 19th century.
The fanaloka is one of Madagascar's hidden carnivores—most people have never heard of it despite it being an apex predator in its ecosystem, showing how many fascinating creatures remain obscure simply because they live on remote islands.
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