Texan confronts the legendary chupacabras

Sinister goat sucker or mangy coyote?

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Biology, 3rd September 2009 10:42 GMT

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A Texan taxidermist has earned himself some nice publicity for parading what he claims may be a chupacabras - the legendary goat-sucking hell beast first spotted in Puerto Rico in 1995 and which has since spooked fearful citizens across Central America:

Well, it didn't take sceptics long to point out the similarity between the caprine-worrying devil creature and the Xoloitzcuintli breed of mutt. Judge for yourselves here. Alternatively, others have suggested it's just an rather unfortunate, mange-ravaged coyote, or possibly a monstrous hybrid dedicated to stripping the Americas of their goat and chicken populations.

The truth will soon be known. According to the Los Angeles Times, Ayers has "received requests from the University of Texas and UC Davis to provide tissue samples for their ongoing research", and between them they will doubtless be able to determine the beast's real identity.

In the meantime, here's another chupacabras sighting, this time a live example of a Texan goat sucker on the prowl for prey, Be afraid...