Scientists from the National Game and Wildlife Directorate have discovered that the elusive striped “cat-fox” in the myths of Corsican shepherds is a separate breed of cat. It has been reported Phys.org.
Shepherds from the French island of Corsica tell legends from generation to generation about the elusive “cat-fox” that attacks sheep and goats and drinks their milk. Scientists have long believed that simple wild cats are the prototype of the myth.
Finally, in 2008, a “cat-fox” was unexpectedly seen in a local chicken coop, and in 2019, an individual with different colored eyes was caught and a DNA sample was taken. The animal was later released. Genetic analysis has shown that this is no 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 characteristic color: the black tip of the tail and the dark hind legs. Thick, silky fur is a natural defense against fleas, ticks and lice.