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

a shallow depression or a furrow

L. = a trench or ditch; axillary fossa = armpit; fossa ovalis = opening in thigh through which saphenous vein passes; fossa ovalis cordis = remnant of embryonic foramen ovale in heart; navicular fossa, q.v.

Latin for ditch, plural fossae]: A pit, indention, or cannel in a bone.

monotypic genus of Madagascar civets closely related to palm civets

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

The fossa is a meat-eating mammal from the island of Madagascar.

The Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) (pronounced "FOO-sa" or Fah-suh) is a mammal endemic to the island of Madagascar. It is sometimes said to resemble a cross between a dog and cat, although it is actually more closely related to the mongoose. It is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island.