The fossa is the largest carnivore in Madagascar, related to the mongoose.
Its name in latin is Cryptoprocta ferox which means ferocious hidden anus.
Teenage females undergo a temporary phase where they take on some traits that look like adult males.
Their clitoris enlarges and grows an internal bone and spines, similar to the male penis. They also start to exude an orangey substance from their chest that adult males also secrete.
Scientists think this might be a 'disguise' to trick other fossa's so that juvenile females avoid aggression from adults.
Adult fossas can be quite aggressive to each other. The adult females are very territorial and the males can be aggressively amorous.
By looking and smelling like males, juvenile females can avoid this aggression.
Once the female fossas reach sexual maturity, they lose the male genital disguise.
References and Further Reading