The chupacabras has ashen skin, prominent fangs and ridges on the back. According to legend stretching from the US to Southern Cone of America, attacking goats and chickens to drink their blood. But Sharman Hoppes, veterinary medicine at Texas A & M University, the mythical creature is nothing more than a coyote with mange.
Days ago, Hoppes received a call from Hood County Sheriff in northern Texas. They had found a creature near a school and the neighbors called the police, who struck the animal. "Suspected it was a chupacabra" comantaba Hoppes shaking his head.
First, Hoppes studied anatomy: "We look his head, ears, teeth and knew it was some kind of canine. If it was a coyote or coyote hybrid dog or coyote and wolf is difficult to determine, given their status, "he says. The skin disease was evident. "You see how the skin is thicker, wrinkled and hyperpigmented, abnormally dark with this proliferation in the ears". The skin scraping confirmed that the animal was suffering from severe mange, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The vet says that the animal had long without eating, scabies weakened him and affected his ability to hunt. The back muscle was consumed, creating small ridges on the back.
Hoppes sent the body to complete the Pathology for necropsy. There reviewed the internal organs and found more mites. Finally, they took blood and tissue samples for DNA analysis.
Remove the legend of chupacabras can help these scientists to go further. According Hoppes, interested to find out "why this animal has developed scabies so severely. A dog with scabies is not like this. " The analysis of the adrenal glands reveal whether the child suffered immunodeficiency.
Teeth in the freezer
It is the first time that one of these analyzes whole animals. For years there have been sightings of chupacabras assumptions about the US-Mexico border. However, Hoppes said, "who claimed to have captured one is reluctant to give it away for investigation, only send pieces of skin or a tooth. As the woman who claims to have two or three, I think in your freezer. "
The woman he refers is called Phyllis Canion. Three years ago a similar creature found on his ranch and froze. Today, the self-shirts Lady of the Chupacabras sells on its website with the slogan 2007, the year of the Chupacabras.
On reports of goats and chickens bled, Hoppes said that "kill this animal bites, not sucking blood. I see no relationship, I do not know if there will be vampires in the area. " His reflection is not far-fetched: vampire bats live in Texas. A few of them, a mangy coyote and a rancher with a freezer enough to be a chupacabra. And 20 more dollars, the shirt.
