‘Cat-fox’: On the trail of what may be a new species
IN THE forest undergrowth of nort hern Corsica, t wo wildl i fe ra ngers open a cage to revea l a striped, taw ny-coated a nimal, one of 16 felines k now n as “cat-foxes” in t he area and thought to be a new species.
“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,” says Pierre Benedetti, chief environmental technician of the National Hunting and Wildlife Office (ONCFS).
“It’s a wonderful discover y,” he says, holding t he feline – called “Ghjattu volpe” in Corsica n – found in Asco forest on the French Mediterranean isla nd.
While resembling a domestic cat in some ways, the ringtailed feline measures 90cm from head to tail, has “very wide” ears, short whiskers and “highly developed” canine teeth.
Ot her dist i ng uish i ng features include t he st r ipes on t he f ront legs, “ver y da rk ” hind legs and a russet stomach. The dense, silk y coat is a nat u ra l repel lent for f le a s, t icks and lice.
The tail usually has t wo to four rings and a black tip.
“It’s t heir si ze and t heir ta i l t hat earned t hem t he name ‘cat-fox’ across t he isla nd,” says Benedetti.
The animals are found in a remote habitat where there is “water and plant cover offering protection against its main predator, the golden eagle”, says Carlu-Antone Cecchini, ONCFS field agent in charge of forest cats.
Using nonviolent methods, the ONCFS has since 2016 captured 12 of 16 felines seen in the area, releasing them again after a quick examination.
Now, they say, they hope to have “this cat recognised and protected” within t wo to four years.
Legend has it
“The cat-fox is part of our shepherd mythology. From generation to generation, they told stories of how the forest cats would attack the udders of their ewes and goats,” says Cecchini.
A f ter yea rs of play i ng cat a nd mouse, one of t he a nimals “was caught unexpectedly in 2008 in a chicken coop at Olcani in Cap Corse,” says Benedet t i, who ha s be en resea rch i ng t he species for more than 10 years.
Research got under way and, in 2012, with the help of a method involving essence attractive to cats and a wooden stick which they rub against leaving traces of their fur, they were able to determine its genetic make-up.
“By looking at its DNA, we could tell it apart from the European wildcat, Felis silvestris silvestris. It’s close to the African forest cat, Felis silvestris lybica, but its exact identity is still to be determined,” Benedetti adds.
Wit h a d v a nc e d phot o - g raph ic a nd later physica l t raps, t he resea rchers capt ured t heir f i rst “cat-fox” i n 2016.
There a re st i l l many mysteries surrounding t he cat.
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.
“If the hypothesis is true, its origins are Middle Eastern,” he says.
The ident i f icat ion chip i n the neck of the animal helps revea l t hat it i s a ma le of bet ween fou r a nd si x yea rs old, a l ready c aug ht a few times before and has a damaged eye caused by a f ig ht with another male.
After examination, the cat with one green eye and one brown eye is free to go, leaving behind its GPS collar with 80 days’ data.