A new animal – a dogxim – said to be a cross between a wild fox and a domesticated dog has been discovered in a South American country.
Animals are remarkable but often baffling beings placed on Earth by the Creator of the universe. Those cute, furry and four-legged creatures all have their own unique personalities, likes and dislikes. Like people, no two animals are exactly the same.
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That was especially true when, in 2021, scientists came across an animal that had them quite puzzled. Medical professionals employed by a university in Brazil encountered the strange being after it was struck by a car and rushed to a veterinarian for care, according to the Daily Mail.
Science Alert reports that the strange animal, while it slightly resembled a dog, was unlike anyone they had encountered up until that point. The animal's eyes, fur and even its bark were similar to a canine. However, the animal’s ears and nose did not match up with that of a typical dog.
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In addition to its odd appearance, the strange new being's diet was also peculiar. The animal would not consume dog food. Instead, it would only feed on small rats.
Then, using genetic testing, the scientists came across a startling discovery. They uncovered that the female animal was actually the product of a fox and a dog. Its mother was a pampas fox and the father was a domesticated dog, according to the Daily Mail.
“She had a shy and cautious personality, generally preferring to stay away from people,” Flávia Ferrari, a conservationist who worked with the animal, said. “Over the time she was hospitalized for treatment, I believe she started to feel safer.”
Sadly, though, the animal, the female dogxim, did pass away earlier this year due to unknown reasons. However, the scientists believe the animal did have the ability to reproduce. The scientists believe other dogxims may be in the wild.
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“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” – Genesis 1:21
h/t: DailyMail.com & Science Alert
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