By Scott Corrales
Latin America Correspondent

By Javier Resines

Criptozoología en España presents a curious photo that reminds us of those which have – on occasion – appeared in the United States or other countries regarding the capture of an alleged chupacabras.

The strange head, displaying sharp teeth, the unusual way that the extremities end, its long and powerful tail...it all suggests that we’ve finally found the carcass of the mythical creature and furthermore, right here in Spain. At least that’s what someone might think. Someone who isn’t quite familiar with a much more prosaic creature...

The photo shows a mummified mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) found by Manolo Segura Herrero (who took the photo) in a cave in the mountains surrounding Toledo. Upon seeing this image, an unscrupulous, sharp-eyed huckster may have endeavored to pass off the animal as the unique discovery of a strange being, attracting attention in certain circles, as has occurred elsewhere.

In any event, it is nonetheless interesting that the protagonist of our story should be a mongoose, precisely the culprit in stories involving “hairy serpents” that emerge from our country every so often. For more information, you can visit this link to an article published only recently about this unusual creature.

(Translation (c) 2011, S. Corrales. Special thanks to Javier Resines)
 

Source: Inexplicata-The Institute of Hispanic Ufology
http://inexplicata.blogspot.com