Scientists from the National Directorate of Game and Wildlife have found that the elusive striped “cat-fox” from the myths of the Corsican herders is a separate type of cat. Phys.org reports.
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Shepherds from French islands of corsica From generation to generation, legends are told about the elusive “cat-fox” that attacks sheep and goats and drinks their milk. Scientists have long believed that simple feral cats became the prototype for the legend.
Finally, in 2008, a “cat-fox” was unexpectedly seen in a local chicken coop, and in 2019, an individual with eyes of different colors was caught and a DNA sample was obtained. The animal was then released. Genetic analysis has shown that this is not an ordinary domestic cat, but a separate species from the cat family.
The Corsican “Cat-Fox” got its name from its size (about 90 centimeters from head to tail) and its characteristic color: a black tip of the tail and dark hind legs. The thick, silky coat is a natural defense against fleas, ticks and lice.
