Cat-fox officially recognised as a new species

Yahoo! UK

Meet one of the world’s ‘newest’ species - the cat-fox.

There are just 16 cat-foxes roaming around the northern parts of the Mediterranean island of Corsica, and efforts are being made to make them a protected species.

They resemble domestic cats and measure 90cm from head to tail, have wide ears, short whiskers and highly developed canine teeth.

Other distinguishing features include the stripes on the front legs, very dark hind legs and a russet stomach.

Wildlife ranger in Corsica holds a "cat-fox' -- a new, as yet unclassified species.
Wildlife rangers in Corsica believe that felines they have been researching, known as "cat-foxes", are a new, as yet unclassified species. SourceL AFP

The dense, silky coat is a natural repellent for fleas, ticks and lice.

The tail usually has two to four rings and a black tip.

Chief environmental technician of the National Hunting and Wildlife Office Pierre Bendetti said: ‘We believe that it’s a wild natural species which was known but not scientifically identified because it’s an extremely inconspicuous animal with nocturnal habits.’

Mr Benedetti added: ‘It’s a wonderful discovery. It’s their size and their tail that earned them the name cat-fox across the island.’

Wildlife rangers in Corsica researching "cat-foxes" -- a new, as yet unclassified species.
Pierre Benedetti (left) and Carlu-Antone Cecchini (right), of the National Hunting and Wildlife Office (ONCFS), have been researching the "cat-foxes" and hope to have them recognised and protected within four years. Source: AFP

The cat-foxes are known on the island as Ghjattu volpe and are found in the Asco forest.

Mr Benedetti’s colleague Charles-Antone Cecchini said that they have a remote habitat where there is ‘water and plant cover offering protection against its main predator, the golden eagle’.

They have captured and re-released 12 of the 16 cat-foxes over the last three years to examine them and they hope they will become a protected species within the next few years.

Cecchini said: “The cat-fox is part of our shepherd mythology.

Wildlife rangers in Corsica believe that felines they have been researching, known as "cat-foxes", are a new, as yet unclassified species.
Using nonviolent methods, the ONCFS rangers in Corsica have since 2016 captured 12 of 16 felines seen in the area, releasing them again after a quick examination. Source: AFP

“From generation to generation, they told stories of how the forest cats would attack the udders of their ewes and goats.”

After years of playing cat and mouse, one of the animals ‘was caught unexpectedly in 2008 in a chicken coop at Olcani in Cap Corse,’ says Benedetti, who has been researching the species for more than 10 years.

Its diet and reproductive patterns are yet to be studied but Benedetti has a theory that the cat could have been brought to Corsica by farmers in 6,500 BC.

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