The Crocotta

The Crocotta is a strange type of canine that resembles a wolf. It is also called a Corocotta, a crocuta and a leucrocotta. Some other name is yena. Supposedly as a large as a horse, bull or mule, it appears to be a reddish brown or yellow colour with spots and/or stripes. While it's supposed to have fangs, it's often described as being without visible teeth, just bone, or even perhaps with gingival hyperplasia. This bizarre animal can be found in hot, arid and tropical climates, from India to Ethiopia. What is also a trait associated with the crocotta is its ability to mimic sounds! It's their way of attracting victims, by using voices to lure them to their trap. Crocotta eats all type of meat and hunts anything, including humans. 

It's believed that the Roman emperor Antonius Pius presented a crocotta beast at an arena in AD 148, during his decennalia celebration. That was mentioned in the Augustan History (Pius X.9.). Another historian named Cassius Dio mentioned that the Roman emperor Septimius Severus mentioned the crocotta being brought to Rome from India. The emperor had said of the crocotta: 

"It has the colour of a lioness and a tiger combined and the general appearance of those animals, as also of a dog or a fox, curiously blended." 

Pliny the Elder and his work "Naturalis Historia" described the crocotta as between looking like a dog and wolf, a hyena and a lion. Pliny wrote that the crocotta was able to change its genders, and it could become pregnant without a male. He said that the shepherds found the crocotta mimicking human speech to draw in prey. Crocotta also makes sounds of a sickened human to attract hungry dogs. These creatures dig up corpses. 

The Byzantine scholar Photius summarised work by the Greek writer Ctesias: 

"In Ethiopia there is an animal called crocottas, vulgarly kynolykos (dog-wolf) of amazing strength. It is said to imitate the human voice, to call men by name at night, and devour those who approach it."

 What is even more is that the crocotta can't be harmed by weapons made of steel. Many more scholars and historians including Strabo all mentioned the crocotta as though it were a very actual real creature. 

Besides the mention of it throughout ancient times, the Middle Ages, and some sightings in the United States, there is no evidence the crocotta is real. But what is mentioned is the scientific name for hyena is Crocuta crocuta as named after the legendary animal. Hyenas do have similar traits to the descriptions of the crocotta, as well as digging up corpses and being very strong, they can also make humanlike sounds too. A lot of modern researchers believe that the crocotta was probably a hyena after all.  

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